Scottish Labour leadership election - To be announced on December 13

[You kip if you want to...]

Johann Lamont standing down.

There was some talk of this during the summer.

Jim Murphy starts as the frontrunner. Anas Sarwar could also do well. Gordon Brown is being mentioned, but I can't see it happening...

[You kip if you want to...]

All this talk of 'constant sniping' from 'MPs' and 'influences around Ed Miliband don't help' makes me wonder why people just won't name names.

Douglas Alexander. That's who they're all talking about surely.

[You kip if you want to...]

The problem for Scottish Labour though is that all their MSPs are at best mediocrities.

That's a massive part of the problem. For too long Labour has let the Holyrood team just look like the 'B Team' while all the ambitious, skilled politicians went to Westminster. This contrasts with the SNP where, obviously, all their skilled politicians sit in the parliament.

I think the referendum campaign has made many Westminster-based Scottish Labourers realise that politics north of the border isn't all that bad...

[You kip if you want to...]

I can't see a Westminster MP going down at all well with the public.

The problem for Scottish Labour though is that all their MSPs are at best mediocrities.

Who can stand? MSP's, MP's, MEP's, Cllrs? If an MP was elected Scottish Labour leader that would make matters worse.

You mean like Salmond when he took over the SNP in 2004?

And Anas Sarwar, would make an entirely acceptable leader, yet is still "only" an MP. The "they can't go with an MP, surely" view is entirely circumstantial. And if Gordon Brown steamrolled in as a candidate, I doubt many would raise an eyebrow about him not being an MSP.

[You kip if you want to...]

Would Murphy have the D.Mili problem of the MSP group generally not liking him all that much and the unions loathing him?

[You kip if you want to...]

Bold prediction, Jim Murphy won't win this.