Jim Murphy has announced his intention to resign as Scottish Labour leader next month.
The recently ousted former East Renfrewshire MP has made the decision after the party was almost wiped out in Scotland at the general election.
He said the party remains divided, and said he intends to use his final month as leader to prepare the ground for his successor and leave behind a stronger party rather than leaving abruptly.
Labour had been crushed between “two nationalisms” in Scotland and England, he added.
He does not intend to stand for election to the Scottish Parliament as previously planned, saying: “It’s time for me to do something else.”
Mr Murphy is resigning despite winning the support of the Scottish Labourexecutive in today’s vote of no confidence, with a tight vote in his favour of17 to 14.
“It is clear that a small minority who didn’t accept my election as leader of the Scottish Labour Party just five months ago won’t accept the vote of the executive today and that will continue to divide the party,” he said.
“Today I received more support in the executive vote than I did from members of the executive when I stood for election five months ago.”
He has pledged to table a report of proposed reforms to the executive next month.
“When I table that report at next month’s meeting of the Scottish Labour Party executive, I will also table my resignation as leader of the Scottish Labour Party.
“It will be for the party executive to decide whether it accepts the reforms proposed, but a party in such urgent need of reform blocks those changes at its peril.”
He added: “The Labour Party’s problem is not the link with trade unions, or even the relationship with Unite members – far from it.
“It is the destructive behaviour of one high profile trade unionist.
“One of the things about stepping down is that you can say things in public that so many people in the Labour Party only say in private.
“So whether it is in Scotland or in the contest to come in the UK, we cannot have our leaders selected or deselected by the grudges and grievances of one prominent man.
“The leader of the Scottish Labour Party doesn’t serve at the grace of Len McCluskey, and the next leader of the UK Labour Party should not be picked by Len McCluskey.”
Mr Murphy added: “The siren voice from behind a big desk in Unite’sheadquarters in London shouldn’t be allowed to instruct what the Scottish LabourParty does.
“Len McCluskey and the Unite leadership in London are the type of people who could back the wrong horse in a one horse race.
“That is just the way of the world, but it shouldn’t be the way of the world in the future and that is a lesson for the entire British Labour party.”
He added: “Once I stand down Kezia Dugdale, the deputy, will fulfil the role as acting leader.
“I will stand down at the next meeting of the Scottish Labour Party executive.
“But the problem that the Scottish Labour Party has had for some time is that we have had leaders who have left at a moment’s notice.
“I don’t question the reasons, but we know what happened. Wendy (Alexander) left abruptly, Henry (McLeish) left abruptly, Johann (Lamont) left abruptly.
“We need that period of stability over the next month so that by the time of the next Scottish Labour Party executive, I will table that report about the modernisation of the Scottish Labour Party, because to some extent the Scottish Labour Party is the least modernised part of the entire UK Labour movement and that can no longer continue.”Mr Murphy said he will prepare “a comprehensive report” on his proposals forthe future of the party.”It will cover our plan for earning back the support of Scottish voters, a strategic overview of the voters that we need to win back, and the challenges that we face for the party on the ground ahead for the next two sets of Scottish elections,” he said.”A clear understanding of Scottish voters’ concerns and aspirations.”A plan for reshaping the Scottish Labour Party and using all of our talents, widening our membership and ensuring the best possible range of talents from our membership and beyond.”And above all, defending the rights of Labour Party members and putting them back at the heart of our organisation.”We should have system of one member, one vote as the UK Labour Party has for the election of all future leaders.”I will also in that report provide a fresh assessment of our policy platform preparing for using new powers, and then bringing them closer to the voters and out of the Holyrood parliament.”Looking also at how we defend solidarity across the UK in the face of rising nationalisms, both north and south of the border.”Mr Murphy said the support of Mr McCluskey is “the kiss of death” forpoliticians.”I know over the past few days I have been at the centre of a campaign by the London leadership of Unite the union, and they blame myself or the Scottish Labour Party for the defeat of the UK Labour Party in the general election,” he said.”That is a grotesque insult to the Scottish Labour Party. It’s a grotesque insult to our thousands of volunteers from someone who pays occasional fleeting visits to our great country.”He added: “We have to draw the poison out of some of the personalities.”Sometimes people see it as a badge of honour to have Mr McCluskey’s support.”I kind of see it as a kiss of death to be supported by that type of politics.”He added: “The Scottish Labour, and to some extent the British Labour Party’s argument was crushed in a pincer movement between two competing nationalisms.”It was turned into a quasi-sporting contest or football match with a Scottish nationalism and an English nationalism.”Our politics of solidarity and sense of social justice got crushed between those two competing messages.”We have been the greatest force for change in our nation’s remarkable history.”The Scottish Labour Party will rise again. It will be under someone else’s leadership and I am confident about my party’s future.”SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon said: “I wish Jim Murphy all the very best for the future. Leadership is not easy and he deserves credit for standing up for what he believes in.”The meeting of Scottish Labour’s executive was disrupted by protesters who entered the party’s Bath Street HQ.Police were called and the protesters, who included persistent anti-Labour activists Sean Clerkin and Piers Doughty-Brown, left the building to protest further from the street outside.The protesters were calling for Mr Murphy to remain as leader to “finish the job of destroying Scottish Labour”.Mr Murphy insisted he has not been hounded out of the job by protesters who have turned out at almost every public appearance.”I’ve got used to calling the small band of worshippers who follow my every move by their first names,” he said.”Hounded out by half a dozen folk who have nothing better to do but to trample over passers-by in their attempt to think up a witticism? No, not at all.”A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: “Officers were called to a report of a disturbance outside the Labour Party HQ, third floor, Bath St at 11.35am.”Two protesters were at the location. Both left on police arrival. Advice and assistance was given.”