Scottish Labour members have elected Michael Marra as the party's new leader, filling the vacancy left by Anas Sarwar. In the leadership contest results announced on Saturday, September 19, 2026, Marra defeated rival candidate Joe Fagan by 4,266 votes to 2,485.
The leadership change followed the resignation of Anas Sarwar in July 2026. Sarwar stepped down from the Scottish Parliament to enter the House of Lords and join Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s government as a trade minister. Sarwar’s departure came after Scottish Labour recorded its lowest number of seats—17 MSPs—in the history of the Scottish Parliament during the May 2026 elections.
Marra, an MSP for North East Scotland, has served in the Scottish Parliament for five years. Before entering politics, he worked for Dundee University and served as a Dundee councillor. Within the party, he previously held roles as education spokesperson starting in 2021 and finance spokesperson beginning in 2023. He becomes the 11th person to lead Scottish Labour since the start of the devolution era, not counting interim appointments.
In his victory speech in Edinburgh, Marra described the role as a "singular honour and a great responsibility." He stated his intention to focus on "convening all those who have been failed" and "building movements and alliances" to deliver change. Prime Minister Burnham congratulated Marra and stated he looks forward to working together.
The change reflects a shift in internal party dynamics following former leader Anas Sarwar’s public call for then-Prime Minister Keir Starmer to resign, which preceded Sarwar’s move to the UK government under Andy Burnham. Marra indicated he would prioritize "people and policy" over "political attack lines," citing Burnham's approach in Manchester as a model. The effectiveness of this shift will be measured by the party's ability to influence Scottish legislation and its performance in future electoral cycles.
Marra takes office immediately, assuming the role characterized by his predecessor as "the hardest job in British politics." While specific legislative deadlines were not reported, Marra will be responsible for leading the party's 17 MSPs through the current parliamentary session. The next major test for this new leadership will be the party's response to the upcoming Scottish budget and its efforts to rebuild its parliamentary presence following the losses sustained in the May 2026 elections. No further internal votes are currently scheduled.