Jim Murphy to stand for leadership of the Scottish Labour party

Former PM Gordon Brown, interim Scottish Labour leader, Anas Sarwar, and shadow Scottish Health Secretary, Jackie Baillie, have all ruled themselves out

Jim Murphy campaigning for Better Together in the summer (Getty Images)

Jim Murphy, the shadow International Development Secretary, is to stand to become leader of the Scottish Labour Party.

Mr Murphy, who was prominent in the campaign against Scottish independence during the referendum, is currently the MP for East Renfrewshire, once the Conservatives’ safest seat in Scotland. Party rules say that the leader must be able to become First Minister of Scotland so he would presumably have to win a Scottish Parliament seat in the 2016 Scottish elections.

Mr Murphy is to make a formal announcement on Thursday but told BBC Scotland of his decision tonight.

Two Labour members of the Scottish Parliament, Sarah Boyack and Neil Findlay, have also declared they are standing, while other party heavyweights, including the former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, the interim Scottish Labour leader, Anas Sarwar, and the shadow Scottish Health Secretary, Jackie Baillie, have all ruled themselves out.

Mr Murphy told Scotland’s Daily Record newspaper that he wanted “a fresh start for the Scottish Labour party”.