JIM Murphy today officially resigned as Scottish Labour leader after submitting a report on the future of the party.
The former East Renfrewshire MP, who led his party to a catastrophic defeat at the hands of the SNP at last month's general election, announced his intention to resign after his efforts to hang on to his job were hampered by a rebellion among some MSPs and party members.
He announced that he would stand down nine days after the election, which saw Labour lose 40 of its 41 Scottish seats, after narrowly surviving a vote of confidence of the party's national executive.
Mr Murphy has kept a low profile since revealing his intention to step down, but will return to the limelight today when he unveils his proposed reforms and holds a press conference at another meeting of the national executive in Glasgow.
Changes put forward by the ex-Secretary of State for Scotland include operating a one person, one vote system for the leadership election and reopening the regional lists to attract a wider range of candidates for the 2016 Scottish Parliament elections.
He also set out the timetable for the forthcoming election of the leader and deputy leader of Scottish Labour. Kezia Dugdale, the current Scottish Labour deputy leader, is seen as the hot favourite to replace Mr Murphy. Ken Mackintosh, MSP for Eastwood, is also running for the top job.
Scottish Labour Party Chair Jamie Glackin said: "The road back for Scottish Labour will be long and hard. There is no one single solution that will revive our fortunes overnight, but the proposals we will vote on at the Scottish Executive Committee will be key to our fightback.
"The Scottish Parliament elections are less than a year away. We need to get our party into shape to hold the SNP Government to account and offer a credible alternative to the people of Scotland."
Meanwhile, Mr Mackintosh, who also ran for leader in 2011 but came second behind Johann Lamont, said he wanted to return Scottish Labour to a "positive" party that "inspires hope and change."
In an article to his constituents, he wrote: "We express our frustration at the lack of commitment to progressive policies, but people just hear our anger. We help create the impression so often thrown at us, that we have a sense of entitlement.
"Under my leadership, Labour would become a more constructive opposition, not trying to use everything that is wrong in Scotland as a club with which to beat the Government over the head, but trying to be less tribal, less partisan and more generous.
"I will go out of my way to find policies and issues where progressive parties can work together in the common good. I want us to reach out to people from all walks of life who don't traditionally identify with Labour such as businesses and employers, and more than anything, to inspire and enthuse the young about the country this could be. I want to stop reliving the past and talking about Scotland's future."
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