Scottish Labour leadership challenger Kezia Dugdale has warned the ageing party will die unless it attracts new younger members at the latest hustings in Glasgow.
Ms Dugdale, who is standing against Ken Macintosh to replace Jim Murphy explained during an event attended by 200 people at the Emirates Arena that the party was in a serious situation.
She said: "Our party and vote in Scotland is ageing. If we don't accept that and do something about it our party will die with that generation, It's that serious."
The current deputy leader said that Labour had to target regaining constituencies in Glasgow, in particular, if it was to recover and win back power following last month's election defeat.
She said: "The Scottish Labour Party was founded in Glasgow. We won't be able to get back on our feet without this great city's support.
"To put it bluntly, Labour won't win again without winning in Glasgow. The General Election wipeout we suffered here was years in the making.
"Despite the hard work of our candidates, councillors and activists, the majority of people in Glasgow had decided who they wanted to represent their hopes and aspirations - and it wasn't Labour."
Mr Macintosh, the Eastwood MSP, took a swipe at Holyrood cliques and party hierarchies and warned the party had to change direction.
He also said Labour had to change the way it campaigned and make more use of new techniques, while becoming more in touch with people.
He said: "My constituents don't gain anything from me having a glass of wine in the Holyrood bars. I'm not a career politician."
Meanwhile, a ticket of Ms Dugdale and Cowdenbeath MSP Alex Rowley for deputy leader won support from Unison Labour members.
Deputy leadership candidate, councillor Gordon Matheson, the leader of Glasgow City Council, said if Labour turns in on itself it would be doomed.
Cllr Matheson is contesting the deputy post with Cowdenbeath MSP, Alex Rowley and North East MSP Richard Baker.
Ms Dugdale and Ken Macintosh are in a two way contest to replace Jim Murphy as leader.
Cllr Matheson said he had passion, drive and record of success to be a successful No 2.
He said the party's values of Equality and opportunity for all need to be presented to the people.
He said: "Sometimes we give a good impression of being more interested in ourselves than the people of Scotland.
"We've got to change. Turn in on ourselves and we're doomed."
He added: "Let's use this campaign to remind ourselves why we joined the Labour Party in the first place.
"But let's keep our focus on the lives of the people of Scotland."
Mr Rowley said Labour had to be seen as the left wing party of Home Rule and he warned there will be another referendum on independence.
He said: "There is no hiding the fact May was a disaster.
"We need to give the people of Scotland a reason to vote Labour.We need to develop a radical agenda."
In response to a question from a former MP, Anne McGuire, that Labour spend too much time on the constitution and not on Labour's previous successes, he said it could not be ignored.
She said: "We have allowed the irrationality of a movement to overshadow our achievements.
"How do we hold the SNP to account instead of allowing them to pull us on to their ground, the constitutional issue."
However Mr Rowley said the constitutional issue was not resolved and Labour had to prepare for another referendum.
He said: "We're not going to win elections talking about what we've done, but we need to talk about what we are going to do."
He added: "The constitutional debate has not gone away.
"We will have a referendum it's not a question of if but when. The 45% is nearer to 50% now."
Mr Baker said he wanted to be the voice of members in the Labour Party.
He said: "People did see the SNP as the party of change in May. In 2016 and 2017 we need to show we are the reformers.
"People wanted change they were tired of Westminster and they saw the SNP as that change."
He said he wanted to give local government more tools and get back to grassroots campaigning.
He added: Let us be on the front line in our communities. Let us be passionate about our values."
The SNP was seen as a successful campaign movement which drew in activists across a wide spectrum.
Cllr Matheson said it was for many people "an inspiring movement and has people on their side."
He said that Labour had to campaign all year round in communities not only when seats were up for grabs.
He said: " We can no longer be a party that builds up campaign either side of an election then collapses it.
Need to join local campaigns. Need to have communities that feel empowered."
The three men are contesting the deputy leadership and will be campaigning across the country over he summer.
The new leader and deputy leader team will be announced in August following a ballot of party members.
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