MSP elected just two months ago running for Scottish Labour leadership
Joe Fagan has promised to “shake up” politics as he said his party will only be trusted when it is ‘rooted in communities’
A new MSP has announced he is running in the Scottish Labour leadership contest.
Joe Fagan has promised to “shake up” politics as he said his party will only be trusted when it is “rooted in communities”.
The former South Lanarkshire Council leader was only elected as an MSP for South Scotland in May.
The leadership contest was triggered after Anas Sarwar resigned for a place in the House of Lords and a job in the UK government.
Shadow finance secretary Michael Marra and incoming Glasgow MSP Monica Lennon are also running.
Mr Fagan, 38, said running South Lanarkshire Council for four years showed he had a good track record.
“As a local council leader I worked across party lines to make swimming free for South Lanarkshire’s under-16s, to cut the cost of living and deliver the best paid home care workforce in the country,” he said.
“I am not here to wait around. As my track record shows, I am here to get things done. That means more money in people’s pockets, better services on their doorstep and a politics that puts practical change ahead of excuses.”
Fagan, who grew up in East Kilbride, said: “I am standing to unite our party and seize this municipal moment. I want us to back the workers and the wealth builders who hold the key to our future shared prosperity.
“I want to build local wealth and local power and renew Labour as a force for change within the Scottish Parliament and without.”
Mr Marra, the North East Scotland MSP, has received the backing of enough MSPs and MPs to enter the contest.
Left-winger Katy Clark is understood to mulling over whether to run, while Glasgow MSP Paul Sweeney is still to publicly declare whether he will stand or not.
Mr Marra announced on Tuesday that his bid for the leadership would be co-chaired by Edinburgh North and Leith MP Tracy Gilbert and Glasgow MSP Pauline McNeill.
He already had the support of MSPs Daniel Johnson and Jenny Young.
MPs Richard Baker, Irene Campbell, Martin McCluskey, Chris Murray, Kenny Stevenson and Elaine Stewart are also backing Mr Marra.
Ms Lennon is still to have any public endorsements, although it is understood she will be nominated by at least one MP.
It has been reported that Mr Fagan’s team are confident he has enough backers to make the ballot.
A couple of other MPs have said that they are undecided and are waiting to see who the confirmed candidates are before endorsing anyone.
Prospective candidates need to be nominated by three MPs, three MSPs and three affiliate organisations, of which two must be trade unions.
Mr Marra was first elected as an MSP in 2021. He initially served as education spokesperson, before taking on the finance brief in 2023.
Ms Lennon, his main rival, is set to become an MSP soon after Mr Sarwar resigned his seat to join the House of Lords.
She stood against Mr Sarwar for the leadership in 2021, but lost with 42 per cent of the vote.
She was a list MSP for the Central Scotland region between 2016 and 2026, but was not elected as a member for the Glasgow region in May’s Holyrood election.
Mr Sarwar standing down means the seat goes to the next person on the list - which is Ms Lennon.
Nominations open for leader on Monday, August 3 and close two weeks later.
The ballot opens on Friday, August 28 and closes on Thursday, September 17.
The new leader will be announced at a special conference on Saturday, September 19.
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