VOTE DITCHED

Scots Labour coup plotters humiliated after ditching bid to oust Richard Leonard

SCOTTISH Labour coup plotters were humiliated after ditching their bid to oust leader Richard Leonard.

Rebel MSPs dropped an attempted no-confidence vote at the last minute when it became clear they didn’t have enough backing.

It means Mr Leonard, seen as the last senior pro-Corbyn figure in Labour, is likely to lead his party into next May’s Holyrood election — where dwindling support could see their MSP tally of just 23 reduced further.

He said: “There must be an end to the internal plotting and we must unite to hold the Scottish Government to account.

“I have listened to the concerns expressed about me. I will treat those with respect and humility. I will fight with every ounce of my being to improve the fortunes of the party in the run-up to next year’s election.”

The bid to remove Mr Leonard came after four centrist Labour MSPs — Daniel Johnson, James Kelly, Jenny Marra and Mark Griffin — announced they no longer supported him.

They axed their motion at an online Zoom meeting of the party’s Scottish executive committee.

A party source said: “Let’s hope this has acted as a defibrillator for Richard’s flatlining leadership.

“People will be watching how he responds very closely in the coming days.”

But Tory MSP Jamie Greene said: “Scottish Labour used to stand up for the United Kingdom. Now they won’t even stand up to Richard Leonard.

“Ex-voters will be looking on in despair as their old party becomes a fringe group in Scottish politics.”

chris.musson@the-sun.co.uk