Labour Blow for Leonard as key aide resigns
SCOTTISH Labour’s top official has resigned in what a source said was “dreadful” timing ahead of what could be a makeor-break election.
A close ally of leader Richard Leonard, Michael Sharpe said he is stepping down after barely a year in the post due to the demands of a young family. An announcement on Mr Sharpe’s replacement is expected to be made within days.
Mr Sharpe had been instrumental in blocking a leadership challenge against Mr Leonard earlier this year.
SCOTTISH Labour’s top official has resigned on the eve of what could be a make-or-break election for the party after barely a year in post.
Michael Sharpe, a close ally of leader Richard Leonard, announced he was stepping down yesterday because of the demands of a young family.
His departure is a blow to Mr Leonard as his party struggles for relevance after a string of electoral losses, and is financially dependent on the UK Labour Party to keep it afloat.
It could also expose Mr Leonard to trouble in the ranks, as Mr Sharpe was key to blocking a leadership challenge against him in the autumn.
After four of Mr Leonard’s MSPS rebelled and called on him to quit, Mr Sharpe controversially claimed a sitting Scottish Labour leader was immune from a forced removal, despite the UK Labour rules allowing such a challenge.
Mr Sharpe’s departure seemed to catch senior party figures by surprise.
Responding to him making his announcement on Twitter, the Scottish Labour chair Cara Hilton replied: “So sorry to hear this Michael, you’ll be a big loss to our party and the wider Labour movement but family is more important and must come first.”
A party source said the timing was “dreadful” so close to the election.
Scottish Labour is currently working on finalising its candidates for the regional lists, with members due to start voting in the New Year.
All the party’s candidates, both list and constituency, are supposed to be in place by the end of February.
“That’s a huge amount of work involved,” said the source.
“Michael was liked across the spectrum, so I think people will be sad to see him go.”
An announcement on Mr Sharpe’s replacement, and whether interim or permanent, is expected within days.
Mr Sharpe was brought into the top job Mr Leonard in October 2019.
He replaced respected general secretary Brian Roy, who quit after almost five years in post amid a bout of internal feuding over the party’s stance on independence in August that year.
In a statement, Mr Sharpe said: “After deep consideration and discussions with my family, I will be leaving my post as Scottish General Secretary.
“The Labour Party has always been – and will continue to be – a cherished part of my life.
“It’s been an honour to work with the
party in Holyrood for nine years before joining as Scottish General Secretary.
“However, with elections to the Scottish Parliament five months away, I realise that I cannot give my young family and the party I love the commitment that they each deserve.”
Mr Leonard said: “I would like to put on record my thanks and appreciation to Michael Sharpe for all he has done for the Scottish Labour Party.
“For over a decade, Michael has dedicated his life to the party.
“His extensive political acumen and policy knowledge and skills will be greatly missed but I know he will continue to campaign for the party in the future. I respect his decision to take a step back from the high demands of
the role of General Secretary in order to focus on his young family.
“I wish him, Laura and Maxton all the very best for the next chapter in their lives.”
It emerged in October, in the only set of annual accounts that Mr Sharpe signed as general secretary and registered treasurer, that Scottish Labour had suffered an unprecedented recent collapse in its finances, leaving it badly placed to fight a campaign.
It is now being forced to rely on “financial assistance” from UK Labour to pay its bills until at least March 2021.
Ironically, Mr Sharpe’s exit coincided with some rare good news in the polls for Scottish Labour, with Survation putting it up two points to 20 per cent
support in the Holyrood constituency vote among decided voters, neck and neck with the Tories, who were up a point since November.
Labour were also at 20% (+2) on the list vote, with the Tories on 18% (+1).
Despite small dips since last month, support for the SNP was still a mammoth 53% (-1) on the constituency vote, and 41% (-1) on the list.
Also on the list, 10% of decided voters surveyed last week backed the Greens and 7% the Liberal Democrats.
Excluding don’t knows, support for independence was at 52%, down two points in a month, although it was still the 16th survey in a row to show majority support for leaving the United Kingdom.