Monica Lennon enters the race to be new Scottish Labour leader
The Central Scotland MSP joins Anas Sarwar in the contest to replace Richard Leonard
There are now two candidates in the race to become the next Scottish Labour leader with Monica Lennon confirming she will challenge Anas Sarwar for the job.
The central Scotland MSP and party health spokeswoman is vying to replace Richard Leonard, who announced on Thursday he would step down from the role he has held since 2017.
It triggers a contest after Mr Sarwar, Scottish Labour's constitution spokesman, announced his intention to run again having lost out to Mr Leonard for leadership last time around.
Monica Lennon told MFR: "Having spent the last few days listening very carefully to Scottish Labour party members, but also members of the public who've been in touch with me with their views, I've taken the decision to put myself forward.
"I think when people across Scotland start to hear more about the good work that our candidates and councillors do, they'll realise they have a lot of agreement with us, with a lot of our policies and aspirations.
"It will be a decision for Scottish Labour Party members - that's right and proper - and I'm delighted they have the choice of two committed candidates. Anas and I are good colleagues and we will work together during this campaign to showcase the best of Scottish Labour"
"Rebuild Labour" - Anas Sarwar
Mr Sarwar set out his stall to replace Mr Leonard on Saturday, saying the country "needs political leadership that will bring people together'' and that he wants "to rebuild Scottish Labour, and then rebuild Scotland''.
In a column for the Observer online, the Glasgow MSP wrote: "Over the past few years, I have gained a new perspective on our politics and realised that the things we argue about mean little to people's lives.
"We spend too much time highlighting our differences, rather than focusing on what unites us.
"I firmly believe we cannot go back to society as it was before the pandemic - insecure work, hollowed- out public services, an underfunded health service, and the constant focus on another independence referendum when there's far more important things we need to be dealing with.
"Scottish Labour can compete again if we offer a positive alternative - a plan to heal our wounds, to reunite our people and to rebuild our country.''
New leader by end of February
On Saturday, the party's executive agreed to a condensed timescale for any contest with the Holyrood elections less than four months away.
The last Scottish Labour leadership contest in 2017 - when Mr Leonard defeated Mr Sarwar - took two-and-a-half months.
A deadline of midnight on Sunday was set for candidates to declare their intention to run and they require support from at least four of the party's MSPs or its sole Scottish MP by midday on the following Tuesday to be formally nominated.
Party members and affiliated supporters will be able to cast their votes from February 9 until ballots close on February 26 with the new leader to be announced the following day.