ANAS SARWAR has secured the backing of almost half of Scottish Labour’s parliamentarians in his campaign for party leadership.
The MSP revealed a list of supporters a day after announcing his bid for leader, including 11 of the party’s 22 remaining MSPs and two of its seven MPs.
He also secured the backing of one of the two MEPs.
Among those who have declared their support for him include former leader Iain Gray and former shadow Scottish Secretary Ian Murray.
He is currently up against former trade union organiser Richard Leonard MSP in the contest to succeed Kezia Dugdale after she stood down suddenly last week.
Mr Sarwar, a former MP who lost his seat in 2015 when Scottish Labour was left with just one Westminster representative, said: “I am humbled to have received support from so many colleagues in such a short space of time.
“Labour is revitalised in Scotland and we need a united party in Holyrood that is fighting the SNP and ready to form Scotland’s next government.
“And we need a united Labour Party working together across the UK to elect Jeremy Corbyn as Prime Minister. “During this leadership election, with the help of my colleagues, I will be setting out a positive vision for our country that puts Labour values at the heart of Scotland’s future.”
Scottish Labour’s executive committee will meet on Saturday to consider the timetable and process for selecting their next leader.
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