LABOUR’S SCOTTISH LEADERSHIP LEFT RED FACED BY LEADERSHIP RESULT

For immediate use: Monday 27th September 2010


Attn: NEWSDESKS
POLITICAL CORRESPONDENTS


ANALYSIS SHOWS GRAY’S & MURPHY’S CONSTITUENCIES VOTED DAVE BUT GET ED


Further analysis of the breakdown of the Labour leadership’s electoral votes by Constituency Labour Party shows that the constituencies of Scottish Labour Party’s leadership double act of Iain Gray and Jim Murphy failed to get the candidate they voted for. The results show that they overwhelmingly voted for David Miliband but, like the Scottish Labour membership as a whole, got Ed Miliband as leader.


This reflects the figures for the Parliamentarians section where 21 Scottish Labour MPs (or MEPs) backed David Miliband, with only 15 supporting Ed.


Commenting on the latest analysis SNP Business Convener Bruce Crawford MSP said:


“Not only did the Labour membership and Parliamentarians in Scotland not vote for Ed Miliband neither did the key constituencies of East Renfrewshire and East Lothian – the seats Scottish Labour’s leadership double act.


“The delayed reaction of ‘delight’ to Ed Miliband’s victory by the Scottish Labour leadership speaks volumes about what they really think. They know that the fact the Scottish party and their own constituency parties voted for David Miliband but got Ed leaves them with a problem in Scotland.


"Scots didn’t elect Cameron as PM, didn’t vote for Clegg and they didn’t back Ed either. Scotland now has three UK party leaders it didn’t vote for.


“The difference between these three unsupported UK leaders and Alex Salmond is that Alex Salmond is elected and supported by the people of Scotland.


“Ed Miliband’s first test will be next May’s Scottish elections when voters will face a choice between an experienced SNP team led by a First Minister they chose and a Labour party that is Westminster focussed, out of ideas and out of touch.”


ENDS


1. Breakdown of Labour Constituency Labour Parties’ voting can be found at:


http://www2.labour.org.uk/leadership-clps


2. Amongst Scottish Labour members first preferences for the Milibands were as follows:


D. Miliband 3565
E. Miliband 3052


3. Amongst East Lothian Labour members – in Iain Gray’s constituency - first preferences for the Milibands were as follows:


D. Miliband 167
E. Miliband 84


3. Amongst East Renfrewshire Labour members – in Jim Murphy’s constituency - first preferences for the Milibands were as follows:


D. Miliband 109
E. Miliband 52