Jackie Baillie elected as new deputy leader of Scottish Labour

Jackie Baillie has been elected as the new deputy leader of Scottish Labour. 

Bailie received 10,311 votes, while her rival, Councillor Matt Kerr, got 7,528 votes on a turnout of 50.6 per cent. 

The Scottish Labour deputy leadership election was called following the resignation of the previous deputy leader, Lesley Laird, after she lost her seat in the 2019 general election.

The contest ran concurrently with the UK Labour leadership and deputy leadership elections, the result of which will be announced on Saturday.

Responding to the result, Baillie said she had been “humbled” by the support she had received from Scottish Labour members and trade unionists across Scotland. 

She also paid tribute to frontline workers dealing with the coronavirus. 

Baillie said: “When this election started, nobody expected the country to be in the grip of a global pandemic.

“Our collective focus will remain on the challenge that COVID-19 poses to the very fabric of our society.  

“Our heartfelt thanks goes to the workers on the frontline – from doctors and nurses to social care staff, police officers and food retail workers.

“They are helping to care for us and keep us safe at a time of crisis and we should never forget their bravery and service.  

“We will get through this together. 

She added: “It will be some time before politics returns to normal, but the next Scottish Parliament elections are now just over one year away.  

“The Scottish Labour Party has a huge challenge ahead of us.

“Working together with Richard Leonard, our new UK leader and the entire Labour movement, I am ready for that challenge. 

“I will work each and every day to repay the trust placed in me by members so that we rebuild our party and win back the trust of the people of Scotland.”

Commenting on the result, Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard said: “I am delighted that Jackie has been elected.

“We will unite the party and work closely together to get the party in shape to fight the 2021 Scottish Parliament elections. 

 “Jackie will bring a renewed energy and determination to win so I am extremely pleased that she is joining the leadership team at this critical time.”