Alexander to lead Scottish Labour

Last Modified: 21 Aug 2007
Source: ITN

Wendy Alexander has been elected as leader of the Scottish Labour party.

The Paisley North MSP was the only candidate put forward to succeed former First Minister Jack McConnell when nominations closed and will be formally confirmed as the leader at a special meeting next month.

Ms Alexander will be the first female to hold the top job and said she was "massively honoured" to be the only candidate.

She was nominated for the position by 41 of Labour's 46 MSPs.

A left-wing group within the party failed to find enough support to mount a challenge to her candidacy.

Ms Alexander stressed the need to reform and renew the Labour Party after May's defeat to the SNP in the Scottish Parliament elections.

She said: "The first step on a long journey has been taken.

"Sometimes the very hardest thing to do is admit you have to change. Labour in Scotland have done this. We have accepted we lost in May and that didn't happen by accident.

"We know what we have to do and the question we will put in the period ahead is: who speaks for the people of Scotland and for their priorities?"

Ms Alexander said people would give "short shrift" to those politicians who put their own agenda first.

Instead, she said, Scotland was looking for politicians willing to roll up their sleeves, challenge the bureaucracy and get on with improving services.

She added: "That's the road on which I will lead Scottish Labour and it is the road back to power.

"We have the opportunity to build a bright future for Labour and in turn a better tomorrow for Scotland."

These news feeds are provided by an independent third party and Channel 4 is not responsible or liable to you for the same.