Michael Marra and Joe Fagan will go head-to-head for the Scottish Labour leadership after Monica Lennon fell short of the nominations needed to join the race. Voting among party members and affiliated supporters runs from 28 August to 17 September 2026, with the winner set to be announced on 19 September 2026.
The contest was triggered after Anas Sarwar announced last month that he would step down as both Scottish Labour leader and MSP to take up a role in Andy Burnham's government. His departure followed the party's disappointing showing in the May 2026 Holyrood election, where Labour finished joint second alongside Reform, with both parties securing 17 seats.
Who made the final ballot?
Nominations closed at 10:00, and only Michael Marra and Joe Fagan cleared the required threshold to stand. According to Wikipedia's record of the contest, nominations from MPs, MSPs and affiliated organisations opened on 3 August 2026, with the affiliate nomination window closing on 24 August 2026. Separately, the Scottish Labour Party's own website had already listed MP and MSP backing for Joe Fagan by mid-August 2026, according to the party's nominations page. Earlier coverage in early August had described Marra as the frontrunner in the race, according to an earlier report on the contest.
Why did Monica Lennon miss out?
Lennon, who represented the Scottish Parliament for a decade before losing her seat in May, was next in line on the Glasgow regional list but could not secure enough backing to stand. She criticised the party's direction, saying it was "stuck in the past."
Scotland's young people deserve a Scottish Labour Party who will stand up to billionaires and the wealthy elite. Their future is on the line.
Our planet is burning and hope is fading. Punching down on trans people and other minorities is not acceptable. Do better, lead with decency and act with courage.
She went on to describe the kind of party she wanted to see emerge from the process.
Our movement wants an inclusive, progressive and unapologetically socialist recovery.
Notably, both remaining candidates, Marra and Fagan, have voiced doubts about recent efforts within the Scottish Parliament to simplify the process of changing one's legally recognised sex — a policy area Lennon's comments appeared to reference.
What has Sarwar said about the race?
Sarwar, who had led the party since 2021, chose not to back any candidate during an appearance at an Edinburgh Fringe event earlier this month. He did, however, caution the contenders and their campaign teams against turning the contest into internal party conflict.
Dame Jackie Baillie has been serving as acting leader of Scottish Labour since Sarwar's exit. There will be no by-election to fill his Holyrood seat, since he held it through the regional list system rather than a constituency. Under rules introduced last year, politicians are now barred from simultaneously holding seats at both Westminster and Holyrood, which had shaped the terms of Sarwar's move to Westminster-linked government duties.
What happens next?
Voting is scheduled to open on 28 August 2026 and close on 17 September 2026, with party members and affiliated supporters casting ballots to choose between Marra and Fagan. The outcome of the leadership contest is due to be announced on 19 September 2026, according to the latest coverage of the leadership race.
Key Facts
- Michael Marra and Joe Fagan are the two confirmed candidates for the Scottish Labour leadership.
- Monica Lennon was eliminated after failing to reach the required nomination threshold.
- Voting takes place from 28 August to 17 September 2026.
- The new leader will be announced on 19 September 2026.
- Labour finished joint second with Reform in the May 2026 Holyrood election, each with 17 seats.
