Scottish Labour bounce-back has already begun, claims Michael Marra

The “bounce back” of Scottish Labour has already begun, new party leader Michael Marra has said.

The North East MSP took the reins of the party just over a week ago, following its worst ever result at a Holyrood election in May.

While the blame has been laid at the door of former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer as well as the party’s overall strategy, Marra pointed to Andy Burnham’s installation as Prime Minister as the point when Labour’s fortunes began to change.

“I think the bounce-back has started already,” he said.

“Andy has had a really good start to his time in Number 10.

“People can see that he’s talking about those issues that really matter to them day-to-day.

“They feel that they’ve got a better relationship with him as a country.”

The leader added he had a “really strong start” to his time in the job.

“I feel really positive about setting the agenda on child poverty on education issues that are really mattering to the people of Scotland and telling people a little bit more about that long term, what the Labour Party stands for, rather than just what we’re against.

“That’s going to be the keystone to rebuilding the Labour Party as a force in Scotland.”

The Liverpool conference, his first since taking the top job, has been “really upbeat and hopeful”, Marra said.

“It’s been a really positive few days, setting out an agenda for re-industrialisation of the whole country, making announcements about where that investment is going right across the UK, strengthening workers’ rights, strengthening wages and performance of the economy.”

Scotland, he added, is “absolutely a priority” for Andy Burnham.

“The first phone call I received as Scottish Labour leader was a conversation with the Prime Minister, I’m seeing him later today, we’re having those conversations constantly.

“I’m seeing the people around him over the next few days as well, and they are absolutely clear how important Scotland is to his future agenda for the whole of the UK and we want to make sure that Scottish Labour is at the forefront of leading that change as well.”