GMB Scotland Statement - Scottish Labour Deputy Leadership Nomination

GMB Scotland Statement - Scottish Labour Deputy Leadership Nomination

GMB has nominated Jackie Baillie MSP for the position of Deputy Leader of the Scottish Labour Party today (Wednesday 5 February). In a short statement, GMB Scotland Secretary Gary Smith said:

“With a track record of supporting our union’s campaigning objectives and winning against the odds, we believe that Jackie is the best candidate - but as a union we are disappointed a divisive contest had to be run in the first place.  

“There was an opportunity for a struggling party to build some common purpose through a job sharing arrangement involving Jackie and Pauline McNeill MSP for the deputy leadership position, and we feel this was wrongly discounted without proper consideration.

“We are grateful to both Jackie and Matt Kerr, who each spoke about their desire for unity, and both showed they understood the scale of the challenge facing the Scottish Labour party.

“However, Jackie will bring credibility and experience to the position of Scottish Labour Deputy Leader; she understands how to fight and win and we are pleased to give her our union’s nomination.”

ENDS 

Contact: GMB Scotland Communications, on 07976 447077.