Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard accused of 'purge' after frontbench reshuffle
2 min read
Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard has been accused of mounting a "purge" after axeing leading moderates from his frontbench in a bid to end bitter internal rows.
Anas Sarwar and Jackie Baillie were both sacked in a reshuffle which Mr Leonard said was necessary to restore "unity" to his warring party.
A furious row erupted among Scottish Labour MSPs after the party withdrew financial backing for Mr Leonard's predecessor, Kezia Dugdale, who is being sued by pro-independence blogger Wings Over Scotland.
That decision was taken by Jennie Formby, a close ally of Jeremy Corbyn and the UK Labour party's general secretary.
Mr Leonard, who is also a key supporter of the UK party leader, said: "I have decided to refresh Scottish Labour’s shadow cabinet’s focus so that we are ready to meet the challenge of that new terrain of investment versus cuts, and to focus on unity and the public, not ourselves and internal battles."
In a statement, Anas Sarwar - who Mr Leonard defeated to become leader less than a year ago - said he found out he was being sacked on social media.
He said: "It’s a shame that I came to know about this decision through Twitter, while I was leading for Labour in a health debate in the Holyrood chamber.
"For the sake of all the people who need a Labour government, I wish Richard Leonard and his shadow cabinet all the very best for the future."
Scottish Labour MP Ian Murray said Mr Leonard had got rid of "good, capable and committed people" simply for supporting Ms Dugdale.
But Mr Leonard said: "I was elected leader 11 months ago on a platform of real change not only for Scotland but also for Scottish Labour.
"By working together we will take Labour forward. It will give us the best possible chance to win again in Scotland, not for our own sake but for the sake of all those people in all of those communities who need a Scottish Labour Government."
Labour's woes in Scotland are significant because the party needs to step up its revival north of the Border if Mr Corbyn is to stand any chance of becoming Prime Minister.
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