Scottish Labour's only MP Ian Murray was close to abandoning party

The MP nearly joined the failed ‘Change UK’ splinter group during the height of the troubles within Labour over Jeremy Corbyn.

Ian Murray was close to quitting Labour during the Corbyn leadership era.

Labour’s shadow Scottish secretary and only MP north of the border Ian Murray was close to quitting the party at the height of anti-Jeremy Corbyn feeling, a new book has claimed.

Mr Murray, who has represented Edinburgh South for Scottish Labour since 2010, was on the verge of quitting with a resignation speech prepared before changing his mind at the last minute.

The claims are detailed in a new book from The Sunday Times and The Times journalists Gabriel Pogrund and Patrick Maguire which details the drama at the heart of Labour while Jeremy Corbyn was leader.

Left Out: The Inside Story of Labour Under Corbyn details just how close Mr Murray came to quitting his own party, just a year before running for deputy leader of Labour, a contest in which he finished fourth before being appointed shadow Scottish secretary by new Labour leader Keir Starmer.

The book states that Mr Murray changed his mind at the eleventh hour due to fears he would lose his hard fought Edinburgh South seat, which had been considered a target for the SNP for the last two elections and, if lost to the SNP, would have led to major reputational damage.

He won in the December 2019 election with a majority of more than 11,000 but was the only Labour MP returned to the Westminster in that election.

According to The Times, Mr Murray told friends: “I didn’t want to hand my seat to someone from the Corbyn wing of the party and felt loyalty to all the people who had worked so hard to help win over the years.”

The book adds that allies suggested Mr Murray had come close to quitting the party due to wanting to support Luciana Berger who left due to anti-semitism.

A friend said: “Ian wanted to support his friend Luciana and others who had faced racism while Corbyn stood by and did nothing. But he was right to stay and fight given the party is now under new management.”

Mr Murray told The Scotsman and the Edinburgh Evening News: “All my life I’ve fought for a Labour government as I passionately believe in the values of my party.

“Many despaired and examined their own consciences over that period, and for very good reason. In the end, I decided to stay and fight for the party and I was absolutely right to do so.

“I’m dedicated to my constituents in Edinburgh South who I am proud to unstintingly serve and to my very supportive local party who are amazing.

“I’ve helped start the fight back and under Keir Starmer we now have a renewed Labour Party ready to remove the Tories from office at the next election.

“Everyone who believes in a more equal and fair society must strive to make that happen. I will, as I’ve always done, do all I can to achieve that aim.”

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