A new direction
To reconnect with communities, Scottish Labour must build a movement rooted in democratic socialism, argues Monica Lennon
Scottish Labour is experiencing our worst crisis. The choice is stark: either continue with the existing party machine that lost us seats and talented MSPs, or choose a leader with the vision, courage and empathy to make us electable.
I am standing because grassroots members and partners across our movement know that I refuse to make myself small in tough times; I stand tall and lead with integrity. We owe it to members and Scotland to stop sleepwalking and lead with vision, values and committed action. I am the best candidate, and I am willing to serve. I know what I want to achieve as our leader because I’ve listened, learned and prepared.
I have the most parliamentary experience but that is not what makes me the best qualified candidate. I am a visionary politician who changes lives by motivating others. I am disciplined and focused, never losing sight of our values and who we stand for.
I navigate the brutal terrain of politics while showing empathy to others. Being the leader is not about who is most popular in the office. It is about having the vision, discipline and ability to lead, inspire and influence the party and Scotland. I am the only candidate who has a proven track record of movement building and reaching out to the voters who have stopped voting for us.
As the longest-serving Scottish Labour politician in this contest, I have proven that I have both the big ideas and the policy skill to get the details right. My background as a town planner gives me perspective outside of politics. Across 10 years in Parliament, I convened key industry stakeholders as chair of the cross-party group on construction.
It is my experiences as a woman and social justice campaigner that powered me to deliver world-leading period poverty legislation. I am applying that same persistence to advance new legislative proposals, like my ecocide (Scotland) bill to protect nature. This is the leadership Scottish Labour needs: motivated, focused and grounded in the determination to deliver for every Scot.
My goal is to turn Scottish Labour into a movement-building machine – not just at election time, when we are knocking on doors, but on everyday issues where we can make a difference right now. That requires much more than a well-placed opinion piece or a rehearsed FMQs designed for a weekly press line. It requires a systematic approach: relationship building, evidence gathering, and holding the SNP to account on behalf of ignored communities. It means sticking with the fight long after the social media post is published.
Unfortunately, trust in politics is at an all-time low. We need to reaffirm that Scottish Labour is different by being active community champions between elections, making the Scottish Labour name synonymous with tangible improvements in everyday lives. This approach is not only good strategy nationally; it is the right path ahead of the 2027 local council elections.
Scottish Labour was known as the party of devolution – we delivered the Scottish parliament. Yet the ambitions of devolution have been eroded. The SNP has centralised decision-making and disempowered local government. We must be the party of devolution again by re-empowering local councils and fighting the “pay-it-forward” austerity the SNP has enabled for years. Ahead of 2027, Scottish Labour must be the loudest voice demanding the decentralisation of power and the revitalisation of our local high streets.
In this contest, I am the candidate with the highest national profile, and I will use that to raise Scottish Labour’s profile.
We have made the right start with prime minister Andy Burnham’s commitment to further devolution. But how can we expect to get the next chapter of devolution right for Scotland if we don’t devolve decision-making within our own party? I will ensure policy and strategy is developed alongside our members and councillors. We cannot criticise the SNP for centralising power only to repeat the exact same mistakes.
The UK government and UK Labour must respect Scotland. I will request a new working relationship with more autonomy for Scottish Labour.
My vision for Scotland is rooted in democratic socialism: treating housing as a human right through a new generation of council housebuilding; creating a national care service that values both those who give care and those who receive it; expanding community wealth building; and ensuring the transition to green energy and our reindustrialisation creates secure, unionised jobs.
I will always stand with workers seeking fair pay and decent conditions. I will defend women’s rights and LGBTQ rights. And I will challenge those who seek to divide our communities. The path forward requires hope, ambition, internal democracy, and collectivism. Our members deserve a leader who is not afraid to speak up when it is hard. A leader who will build a bigger tent where all the Labour family can thrive.
