Murphy to present parting plan

Jim Murphy formally steps down as leader of the Scottish Labour party today.

He announced he was resigning last month despite narrowly winning a confidence vote following Labour's general election defeat.

Since then he's drawn up plans for reforms to help the party's recovery in Scotland.

Scottish Labour's Executive Committee will meet in Glasgow today to vote on his reform package, which include operating a one person, one vote system for the leadership election.

This would replace the electoral college system which requires a majority vote in at least two out of three blocks,comprising elected members, ordinary members and unions.

Mr Murphy was elected despite opposition from the union college, which backed his left-wing opponent Neil Findlay last year.

The Blairite former MP launched a parting shot at Unite boss Len McCluskey and his influence over the party, insisting he should have no say in the appointment of Labour's new leaders in Scotland and the UK.

Other proposed reforms including reopening the regional lists to attract the widest possible range of candidates for the 2016 Scottish Parliament elections, and setting out the timetable for the forthcoming election of the leader and deputy leader of Scottish Labour.

Current deputy leader Kezia Dugdale and social justice spokesman Ken Macintosh are standing to replace Mr Murphy.

Speaking ahead of the meeting party Chairman Jamie Glackin said: 'The road back for Scottish Labour will be long and hard. There is no one single solution that will revive our fortunes overnight, but the proposals we will vote on at the Scottish Executive Committee will be key to our fightback. The Scottish Parliament elections are less than a year away. We need to get our party into shape to hold the SNP Government to account and offer a credible alternative to the people of Scotland.'