Scottish Labour has said it must change - but I can't see much on offer to do so

Scottish Labour leadership contenders faced each other for the first time at a party hustings last night.

They called for unity while accusing each other of “negative cowardly briefing” (Michael Marra), “dirty tricks and smears” (Monica Lennon), and warned that “Scottish Labour has to change” (Joe Fagan).

That Scottish Labour must change already seems to be agreed as the main point of unity, but I couldn’t see much on offer to make that change.

There were a few differences between the candidates in their answers to members’ questions. Michael Marra and Joe Fagan seem to support the development of Rosebank and Jackdaw oil and gas fields in the North Sea.

Monica Lennon hummed and hawed, said she hadn’t seen the evidence before the energy secretary but they should listen to the workforce.

On directly elected mayors in Scotland, Joe Fagan thinks they are a good idea, Michael Marra said Glasgow was in a “sorry state”, and if it wanted a mayor it should get one, while Monica Lennon sounded sceptical about the whole idea.

On Scotland’s constitutional future they were all opposed to another referendum, but Michael Marra admitted people in his family had voted Yes in 2014 and Scottish Labour’s job must be to get the best deal for Scotland; Joe Fagan said Labour “should not give any quarter to those who want to rerun the referendum; and Monica Lennon warned Labour needed some humility but must show devolution was working and rebuild trust.

They were asked how they would cut NHS waiting times. Michael Marra’s plan was more cooperation with England, Monica Lennon wants to “end the profiteering”, and Joe Fagan wants more prevention.

I’ve not seen that much of Joe Fagan; he only became an MSP in May. Last night, he seemed to speak the loudest and most passionately at times, and his main selling point seemed to be that he actually had leadership experience.

As leader of South Lanarkshire Council, he said he’d delivered free swimming lessons and the best-paid social care workers. He spoke about his council leadership quite a lot, and it felt a bit like he might want to make South Lanarkshireism his version of Andy Burnham’s Manchesterism.

There were about 100 party members in the audience, and it felt to me like many had already made up their minds and nailed their colours (various shades of red obviously) to certain candidates’ masts.

There were undoubtedly a few who had yet to decide – possibly the most important among them was Glasgow West MP, Patricia Ferguson. She is important because she could help decide whose names are on the ballot paper. Nominations close on Monday, and Monica Lennon is still a couple of colleagues short of a nomination; she needs another MSP and another MP to make it.

Patricia Ferguson, who chairs the Scottish Affairs Select Committee at Westminster, is thought by many in the party to be the most likely to lend that support.

Monica Lennon faces an even tougher task persuading another MSP to back her. She needs the support of three MSPs, but only has two so far. There are 17 Labour MSPs; 8 are backing Michael Marra, 5 are backing Joe Fagan, and two are backing Monica Lennon.

Acting leader Jackie Baillie will not nominate a candidate, so that leaves Carol Mochan as the only MSP not backing any of the three. She is one of the most left-wing of the Labour MSPs and would seem most likely to back Monica Lennon as the most left-wing of the leadership candidates, in fact, the only one of the three I noticed mentioning “socialism” last night.

But Carol Mochan and Monica Lennon don’t see eye to eye on everything, crucially on gender reform. Last night, Monica Lennon promised to defend women’s rights and LGBTQ rights and described herself as “a movement builder”, but she needs to build quickly if she is even going to be a candidate next week. And in another blow to Monica Lennon, Carol Mochan’s Carrick Cumnock and Doon Valley Constituency Labour Party backed Michael Marr last night, which could take a bit of local pressure off Carol Mochan to decide.

Michael Marra is the first to confirm his nomination, with enough support from MSPs, MPs and trade unions. He has been the frontrunner from the start, and last night he warned Scottish Labour has “deeper problems” and needs a culture change. He believes he is best placed to “bring the party together”. He and Joe Fagan felt quite similar to me, but this is very early in the contest, and their differences will be magnified over the next few weeks.

Last night was Labour’s first leadership hustings, and it felt odd to hold it before nominations have even closed, counting their candidates before they’ve hatched.

Scotland Tonight will hold a Scottish Labour Leadership hustings next Wednesday with either two or three candidates cross-examining and debating each other.

Last night’s hustings was only for Labour members (who are the actual electorate here after all) and the media. Scotland Tonight’s hustings will be a chance for everyone else to see what they have to say.