RICHARD Leonard will tomorrow meet Jeremy Corbyn face-to-face for the first time since becoming Scottish Labour leader.
Mr Leonard, a long-time supporter of Mr Corbyn, will meet the UK leader when the party’s ruling national executive committee (NEC) travels to Glasgow.
The two men will also hold a joint “rally for real change” in the city's Calton area on Sunday night.
As Scottish leader, Mr Leonard automatically has a seat on the NEC, a concession extracted by his predecessor, Kezia Dugdale.
It is understood to be the first time the NEC has met in Scotland for several years, a "happy coincidence" according to party sources, rather than a tribute to Mr Leonard.
The meeting comes as Scottish Labour celebrates a by-election win in South Lanarkshire’s Rutherglen Central and North ward.
Martin Lennon held the seat for Labour with 38.5 per cent of first preference votes.
Mr Leonard said: “This is a fantastic result, showing once again that voters are looking to Labour to deliver the real change needed in our communities.
“Martin Lennon ran a fantastic campaign and I am confident he will be an excellent councillor for Rutherglen Central and North.
“Across Scotland and the whole of the UK, it is clear voters are being reinvigorated by Labour’s message of hope and real change.
“Together we can continue to defeat the SNP and Tory austerity agenda and build a society that works for the many, not the few.”
Mr Lennon said: “Throughout the campaign it was clear that people were responding to our positive message of a society and a community that works for the many, not the few.
"That message cut through on issues from housing, to social care and to transport.
“As a Labour councillor, I will always stand up for our community.”
In the Perth City South by-election, Tory candidate Audrey Coates held the seat for her party.
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