Labour’s only Scottish MP Ian Murray has given his backing to Yvette Cooper in the party’s UK leadership contest.
The shadow Scottish Secretary said he believes Labour needs its first female prime minister.
It is the first time Mr Murray has expressed his preference in the UK contest, having already nominated Kezia Dugdale in the Scottish leadership race.
“At UK level I have been quite keen to ensure the debate carries on without me backing anyone, but I am backing Yvette Cooper for the next leader of the Labour Party,” he said.
“The reason I am doing that is purely because I think Labour needs its first female prime minister.
“But I also think Yvette has a lot of understanding of the situation in Scotland, I think that she has the determination, she has the confidence.”
The Edinburgh South MP added that Ms Cooper’s policy platform was that of someone who would make a “strong leader” going forward.
“We have got four great candidates who are all having a really good debate about the future of the Labour Party and we should welcome that and embrace that,” he said.
His intervention came as Jeremy Corbyn received the backing of the UK’s largest trade unions, Unison and Unite.
The veteran left-winger is now viewed as the favourite in the leadership race, ahead of Ms Cooper, Andy Burnham and Liz Kendall.
Mr Murray revealed his support for Ms Cooper as he gave a speech in his constituency.
He told party members and activists that the party must look to its “new generation” to get back on its feet after “catastrophic” losses in the general election.
He said it must appeal to the “broad coalition of voters” it lost in May’s vote if it is to win power again.