Civil war has broken out at the top of Scottish Labour after the UK party’s only MP north of the border quit Jeremy Corbyn’s shadow cabinet.
Alex Rowley, Scottish Labour’s deputy leader, accused Ian Murray of putting “self-interest before the needs of the country” by resigning as shadow Scottish secretary.
He tweeted: “Disappointing that at a time when we need unity, focus & strength @IanMurrayMP and fellow plotters put self interest before needs of country.”
A Labour source said it was Mr Rowley, a Fife MSP, who risked creating divisions by personalising the issue.
“It’s important that we keep focussed on what’s in the best interests of the party and personal attacks like these are deeply unhelpful,” the party figure said. “He (Rowley) is taking it to a personal level that others have been very careful to avoid.”
Mr Murray was one of several members of the shadow cabinet who resigned in one of the most turbulent days in Labour’s history.
The Edinburgh South MP said he did not think Mr Corbyn would ever be capable of leading the party into government. The Labour source warned that no-one else in the party – such as an MSP, peer or English MP – has the legitimacy to do the job.
“That would be unacceptable, untenable and the public would reject it,” the source said.
Kezia Dugdale, the Scottish Labour leader, is a close ally of Mr Murray. Her spokesman refused to comment on Mr Rowley’s intervention.
He said: “Ian informed Kezia of his decision this morning. She thanked him for his work in the UK shadow cabinet. “He will, of course, continue to play a key role in Labour’s future in Scotland.”