Scottish Labour gets a ‘fresh start’ at Holyrood, says Kezia Dugdale

Scottish Labour will use its diminished position at the Scottish Parliament as a "fresh start" for the party, according to its leader Kezia Dugdale.

The party returns only 24 MSPs to the new parliament this week, a drop of 13, placing it behind the Scottish Conservatives in third place.

However the SNP failed to win an overall majority, and Dugdale said it would need to be “bold and radical” to win support from the Labour group for new laws.

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“Labour will lead progressive opposition to the SNP and our new MSPs – who come with experience from outside politics – will be critical to that success,” she said.

“We need all their talents to rebuild for the long term. Over the next five years the Scottish Parliament will take responsibility for a whole host of new powers, including over tax and welfare.

“With a minority SNP government, we will put forward progressive proposals for how the new Parliament should use those powers in the best interests of the people of Scotland.

“If the SNP are looking for our support they will need to be bold and radical in how they use the new powers of the Parliament.”

New Labour MSP Colin Smyth said the party should focus on building in local communities.

“Labour has to exist beyond the Parliament, in communities with a deep understanding of Scottish civic society. I want to see Labour bring the views and voices of all of Scotland to the Parliament so that we can properly represent Scotland’s diverse communities no matter what part of the country people are from,” he said.

Labour and the Scottish Conservatives have indicated they will seek a reform of the Scottish Parliament’s structures to improve parliamentary scrutiny.

Scottish Labour’s democracy spokeswoman Clare Baker said the party will push to ensure the presiding officer and committee conveners are not dominated by the SNP.

“We saw in the last term that SNP-dominated committees did not provide anywhere near the level of scrutiny that the government's work required. We will work to change that - but we must go further.

“People require confidence that the politicians they elect to serve are giving them the full attention they deserve.

“Being a member of the Scottish Parliament is an immense privilege and it should be the only job that MSPs do. That is why we will push for a ban on MSPs holding second jobs, including paid directorships and consultancies,” she said.

Conservative leader Ruth Davidson has also called for more powers of scrutiny for a “parliament with teeth” .