Richard Leonard, Scottish Labour’s new leader, delivered an impressive speech at his first party conference as leader yesterday.
Rooted in social justice, he launched an attack on inequality, mounted a defence of workers’ rights and said his party would never give up the fight for those who have the least.
He also made a long overdue call for “less market” in economics and more planning. Leonard is the most left-wing leader Scottish Labour has had and he deserves a chance to succeed. It is likely there won’t be a national election for a number of years and he has an opportunity to introduce himself to voters.
However, a key challenge for Leonard is reassuring voters he's his own man, and not simply a Corbyn puppet.
On Brexit, Corbyn recently u-turned on the Customs Union, but remains opposed to long-term membership of the single market.
Given that Scottish Labour members are overwhelmingly in favour of a soft Brexit, adopting a pro-single market stance seems a no-brainer.
Leonard, however, is backing the Corbyn position and looks out of touch on the EU. He seems to put party unity ahead of Scottish Labour adopting a distinctive position.
Scottish politics is as much about the constitution as it is about the economy. The “branch office” jibe directed by Johann Lamont about her party was wounding because it was true.
Leonard has to ensure he leads a fully autonomous party, rather than an organisation that simply rubber stamps bad policy decisions made in London.
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