Jim Murphy rings the changes in shadow cabinet
NEW Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy will stamp his authority on the party today with a radical reshuffle of the shadow cabinet.
Jim Murphy will introduce a radical shift in the shadow cabinet
No one stays in the job held under former leader Johann Lamont. North East Scotland MSP Jenny Marra, who was joint chair of Mr Murphy’s leadership campaign is expected to win the key health brief.
Former Holyrood leader Iain Gray will be switched from finance to education. He was a teacher before entering politics and Mr Murphy sees the brief as a major battleground.
Every member of the team has worked hard, but it’s time to shake things up
Mr Murphy’s two failed rivals for the leadership, left-winger Neil Findlay, current health spokesman, and Sarah Boyack, have been offered posts but it is not clear if either has accepted. The East Renfrewshire MP, who plans to stand for Holyrood in 2016, said the reshuffle marks a “fresh start” for the party.
He added: “Every member of the team has worked hard, but it’s time to shake things up. That means no member of the shadow cabinet will stay in their current post, every member will be on the move. This is a crucial time for Scotland and I will put together a team that can reach out to Scotland.”
Mr Murphy has pledged to rewrite his party’s constitution and operate independently of Westminster. Polls point to Labour losing 34 of the current 41 Scottish MPs in next May’s general election.