ONE of the new Scottish Labour leader’s most senior colleagues has said it is “foolish” to think Richard Leonard could become First Minister at the next election.

Scots MEP David Martin said his was a “party in recovery” and had to “regain the trust of the people” before it stood a chance of winning power again at Holyrood.

The comments are a blow to Mr Leonard as he prepares to make his debut as leader at First Minister’s Questions today.

Mr Martin – Scotland’s longest serving parliamentarian – said: “I think we can recover, but we’d be foolish to imagine – and sadly I think some people do imagine – that we could win the next Scottish Parliament elections.

“I just don’t think it will happen.

“I think we need to be a bit realistic and be honest with people on that basis, that we are a party in recovery, we are a party that still has a lot to contribute to Scottish politics, but we know we have to regain the trust of the people and it’s going to be a long process.”

Richard Leonard was elected Scottish Labour leader at the weekend, after securing a decisive victory over rival Anas Sarwar.

In his acceptance speech, he said his aim was “to be the next Labour First Minister of Scotland”, calling for “a single minded determination, not merely to attain office, but to win power, power for change, power not for its own sake.”

But speaking to The Herald in Strasbourg last week, Mr Martin said the Labour recovery would be “a long process”.

He said the party should “focus on the issues that matter to people on a day to day basis, and get an audience for that and rebuild on that basis”.

He also repeated his calls for a coalition between Labour and the SNP if the latter fail to win an overall majority at the next election.

He said: “I think we can recover, but I think it’s a long process. I think the way back is potentially a coalition with the SNP.

“I don’t think the SNP are going to collapse either – I think independence is off the agenda for longer than people imagine, but I don’t think the SNP are going to collapse.

“I think they’re still going to be the biggest party in the next election, but they’re not going to have an overall majority.

“And they will need a coalition partner. They are not going to be so narrowly short of a majority as they were in 2007 that they can plough on alone.

“If they are going to have stable government, they are going to need a partner.

“I think Labour should position themselves as that potential partner, and look at where they have things in common with the nationalists, rather than where we disagree, and prove ourselves back in government as a reliable party of government.”

Mr Martin added: “We still have a strong base in Scotland. It doesn’t look like we are a dynamic force in terms of Westminster or Scottish Parliament seats at the present time, but the party has slowly recovered."

“It’s got a good membership again – way behind the SNP’s but a much bigger membership than it’s had for a long time.

“It’s more active in the streets again. We’ve started to win council by-elections and so on.”

The Edinburgh-born MEP was first election to the European Parliament in 1984 as a representative for the Lothians.

He is now the second longest serving MEP in the whole European Parliament.

A spokesman for Scottish Labour said: "The Tories and the SNP are both running out of steam in government.

“After a decade in power people are beginning to see through an SNP government that is better at radical slogans than it is at radical government.

“Only Labour is making the case to use the powers of the Scottish Parliament to deliver real change for the many, and challenge the wealth and power of the privileged few.

“Labour aren't planning on joining the SNP in government - we are planning on replacing it in government. There will be no deals with the SNP."