Labour is “becoming Scotland’s party of hope again”, Michael Marra has insisted as he kickstarted his first campaign weekend since he took over as Scottish leader.
The push by activists across the country comes on the back of Andy Burnham’s first Labour conference as Prime Minister this week – and two weeks after Mr Marra was voted into his new role.
Mr Marra, who also addressed Labour supporters at the Liverpool conference, said the Prime Minister’s speech had “brought the house down” as he “put front and centre an argument for Labour values in a modern UK”.
The Scottish Labour leader added: “It was a powerful personal, progressive, and patriotic case for our values.”
Meanwhile, Mr Marra said he had “made the case for devolving more power to Scotland’s regions, including powers over skills to help ensure young people get the training they need”.
Mr Marra said: “Labour is changing lives for the better across the UK and making the big arguments about the future of the country.
“Scottish Labour is leading with our values.
“For a long time, our opponents have known what we are against. Now it is time to show them what we are for – a fairer Scotland, cutting child poverty and giving every young person a fair go in life.”
SNP MSP Alex Kerr said: “Andy Burnham’s conference speech may have kept Michael Marra happy but his message of ‘hope’ will ring hollow with thousands of Scots fearing the winter ahead.
“With energy bills set to be £1,000 higher than Labour promised, fuel prices reaching record highs and the cost of food set to soar into next year, people need action right now not grand visions of how the country may look 10 years down the line.
“It is welcome that Andy Burnham recognises Scotland’s right to decide our own future. He must now go further and give real hope by being honest about how Scotland can democratically build a future beyond broken Brexit Britain.”