Michael Marra announced as new Scottish Labour leader

Speaking after the votes were read out, Marra said: “It is the honour of my life to be elected leader of the Scottish Labour Party.

“To be entrusted with the leadership of our Scottish Labour Party is a singular honour and a great responsibility.

“I am grateful for your trust and take on the duty of advancing our cause of a fairer, more equal Scotland with all that I can possibly give.”

He went on to thank his opponents, Joe Fagan and Monica Lennon, and praised them for their ideas about how the party needed to change.

He said: “Joe argued for a politics rooted in people and place, for less control in the centre and more control for local communities. That should be the case in our country and in our party.

Monica was right to say we need to reconnect with the trade union movement that birthed the Labour party.

“Her record delivering change through parliament is also a template for how Labour should behave in opposition – robust in our criticism of the SNP, yes, but also making our own change.”