12

Leadership Race: November 2014

1 NOVEMBER: To UNISON in Glasgow for the Labour Link hustings, while Murphy launches his campaign in an Edinburgh hotel. Sarah (Boyack) and I spoke, and then took questions. This was the first hustings of the campaign. I didn’t speak too well and will need to sort out a slick, punchy speech, but that will come. I fared better in the questions addressing the need for us to become the LABOUR Party again, building houses, creating jobs, having a living wage and fairness at work. Afterwards the vote was taken and I won unanimously, with the other two failing to register a single vote. Delighted with this and the offer of assistance from UNISON, especially Dave Watson and Stephen Low – both are very clever and will be of great help. I have asked Alex Rowley to be my campaign manager as a lot of Elaine Smith’s time is taken up with her Deputy Presiding Officer role, but I will still lean on Elaine.

As expected, Murphy’s launch was slick and polished. He apologised for Labour’s poor recent performance, spoke of his patriotism and the need for Labour to take on the SNP. He said:

If I am elected leader of Scottish Labour, I will have three priorities.

The first is to unite our country after the referendum. There is nothing that the people of Scotland can’t do to solve our problems when we work together.

Secondly, I want to increase prosperity. I want successful businesses and young people from working-class backgrounds like my own to get on in life and do better for themselves than their parents did.

Thirdly, I want to reduce poverty, and that includes for those in work. Too many families in Scotland are one wage packet away from serious trouble. That’s just not right.

2 NOVEMBER: The Labour-supporting Sunday Mail has come out for Murphy despite not bothering to speak to me or look at any of my policy or organisational proposals. Lots of glowing press and spin about Murphy’s launch.

I went to UNISON offices in Glasgow for a campaign planning session. We asked a lot of people who we think can contribute to turn up and around 50 appeared. Alex Rowley spoke first about the need to organise and how we were in this to win. When it was my turn to speak, the first thing I said was, ‘If anyone wants this to be a personal campaign against Jim Murphy, or the unions against Jim Murphy, they should leave now!’ I spoke about hope and a vision for a fairer Scotland where people have a decent home, a secure place of work and a health and education system that supports them and their family. I spoke about how we would need to use the skills of everyone in the room if we were to win – and that we could win!’

Afterwards I met with a small group of key people who have pledged to help. Anneliese Midgley, from Unite, is one of the group. I don’t know her personally but she is well rated, having worked with Ken Livingstone at the Greater London Authority, and she is a Scouser, which definitely helps!

So, the team will be – Alex Rowley as campaign chair; Annaliese (organiser); Stephen Low (press); Kevin Lindsay (fundraiser); Tommy Kane (advisor); Dave Watson (treasurer); Ian Davidson (Westminster liaison); Vince Mills and Pauline Bryan (organise activists); Jackson Cullinane (trade union liaison), and Elaine Smith (Holyrood liaison).

Patrick McGuire from Thomson’s has offered his Edinburgh office for use as a base. The offers of help are much appreciated and the campaign starts in earnest today!

3 NOVEMBER: I have decided to hold my campaign launch in the Fauldhouse Miners’ Welfare Social Club. It is a place of huge importance to me and provides an excellent contrast to Murphy’s shiny and slick stuff. It is the right place to have it but I worry it could go wrong and the contest could be over before it begins. All it would need is a few of the Yes campaign wreckers to come in. I need to have a good think about how we do this.

Lots of people making contact to volunteer, while donations are coming in thick and fast. The website is being set up, texts going out, photos taken – although it has been a nightmare trying to set up a bank account!

4 NOVEMBER: To the House of Commons – Ian Davidson had set me up a series of meetings with ‘undeclared’ MPs. I spoke to Russell Brown, Ann McKechin, Jim McGovern, Ian McKenzie, Brian Donohoe, Sheila Gilmore, Lindsay Roy, Ian Murray and Sandra Osborne amongst many others. I honestly believe they had all made their minds up already and none were voting for me. They kept saying, ‘Oh, we like you, but Jim’s a winner and the public know him!’ My response was, ‘Yes, but it depends what you know him for.’

Went for a meal with Cathy Jamieson, Michael Connarty, Jim Sheridan and Ian Davidson – and enjoyed the crack. Stayed at Michael’s flat afterwards. He was very hospitable.

5 NOVEMBER: Up early to go to the parliamentary trade union group to hear about the plight of migrant tobacco workers In the US – horrendous exploitation by the tobacco multi nationals. Met Ian Lavery, John McDonnell and Kevin McGuire, of the Mirror, afterwards. Then off for a chat with Katy Clark, who is running for deputy. We discussed where we could work together and how we can help each other. The Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association union are supporting her, which is good.

Went to PMQs – a complete rabble and a totally different atmosphere from our FMQs. After a horrendous battle through London traffic to Stansted, Tommy and I got the flight home. London is a great place to visit but I couldn’t imagine myself living or working there. It’s chaotic, very expensive and God knows how people make friends outside work. It’s the complete opposite of where I live and the close culture of the West Lothian community. Tommy and I stayed in Edinburgh as we were late into the airport and have to be up early.

Alex Rowley has been on the phone all day wanting to see the speech Stephen is writing for the launch. I have told him repeatedly he will get it but he clearly likes to get his own way. I don’t work that way. The working relationship between us isn’t running as smoothly as it should be.

6 NOVEMBER: Press interest is huge and now that Anneliese is in town we are getting properly organised. Stephen Wright, a friend who has a theatre company, is working on the launch. We have decided to make Saturday an ‘open doors’ event, despite the obvious associated risks. It’s my call and if it all goes tits up there will be no one else to blame. Mind you, I haven’t eaten a thing in three days through worrying about it. We have to get it right and it isn’t helping that Alex is becoming quite demanding!

7 NOVEMBER: I met with Alex this morning as he wanted to rewrite huge sections of the speech and make it all about business. He also made a few comments I didn’t really like so we agreed it would be better if I continue with another campaign manager. He would still support me but wouldn’t take part in the campaign. We shook hands on this. On one hand it is obviously a huge blow to lose your campaign chief on the eve of the launch (an understatement I know) but on the other I am relieved as we simply had different ways of working and I have enough pressures to contend with. I think the fact it hasn’t got out that Alex and I have parted company before we even launched the campaign proper is testament to how tight and united our team is.

To the GMB offices in Glasgow, where I was interviewed by their seven-person political committee, including Scottish secretary Harry Donaldson, for their nomination. I spoke about blacklisting, the work I did with their ambulance staff, my wider trade union work and pride in being a union member and supporter. It is one of the best interviews I have ever given. If I don’t get their nomination I will be gobsmacked.

On the drive home I was able to clear my head and am now much happier about tomorrow’s launch, and how it will be presented. Fiona is on nightshift and Chloe is at her boyfriend’s, so I fell asleep on the couch at 8.30pm and didn’t wake up until 1am, when I staggered to bed. I had missed a call from Harry Donaldson, but he left a message saying I had won the nomination unanimously. Murphy will be gutted, but I slept much better tonight and am actually looking forward to the launch now.

8 NOVEMBER: To the miners’ welfare with Fiona, who has just come off a 12-hour night shift at the hospital, and Chloe. Stephen has the hall set up superbly with large pop-up banners and lectern against the backdrop of the miners’ mural painted by Tommy Shelley. He had chosen Primal Scream’s ‘Movin’ On Up’ as the campaign music, which was a great choice. I was amazed by the turn out. The hall was packed with family, my oldest friends, ex-workmates, councillors, MSPs, MPs, students, trade unionists, children, comrades from Dundee, Ayrshire, Glasgow, Fife, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire and all over Scotland.

Cara Hilton MSP welcomed everyone to the event, and the atmosphere in the hall was fantastic.

She then introduced Elaine Holmes from the Scottish Mesh Survivors group who spoke very powerfully and emotionally about the work we have done together on behalf of the mesh injured women. She also paid tribute to Tommy for his outstanding work and set the scene in a non-partisan way.

We then had Jimmy Gordon, a lifelong Labour man who voted Yes at the referendum. Jimmy is 75 and was in my mum’s class at school. He is a stalwart of the Catholic Church and a hugely respected figure in the Bathgate community. Jimmy spoke about being Labour all his life, but how the Blair Government and Iraq had made him reject the party, although how the type of Labour I represented would bring him back. He was fantastic – straightforward, no nonsense, no spin, totally genuine. My niece Eleana then introduced me (Chloe understandably didn’t want to do it and I would never have pushed her). That was my cue to move to the lectern. This was my pitch to the Scottish Labour Party and the wider public…

Good morning ladies and gentlemen and thank for you for coming along in such big numbers this morning to the launch of my campaign to become the leader of the Scottish Labour Party. Today I want to set out my vision for the future of Scotland; a Scotland based on timeless Labour values of community solidarity, fairness and justice. These are the values I was taught and had instilled in me by my parents and the people I grew up with in this great community here in Fauldhouse. And I’d like to tell you a bit about why I believe only the Scottish Labour Party, with these values running through everything we do, can lead Scotland and why I am the person best placed to lead our party.

I never sought to have a career in politics. I am not a career politician, nor a machine politician. The modern day conventional political career is school to university to working for a politician then into parliament – not for me. Like many people here I left school at 16 without many qualifications. I started my working life as a YTS trainee, then an apprenticeship with my dad. For the next 10 years I worked as a bricklayer and met some of most intelligent, funny and entrepreneurial people you will ever find. But with the encouragement of my family I returned to education, first at college then university. I got a second chance and I took it.

And working as a housing officer I saw how good-quality housing changed people’s lives and provided a secure environment for their children to grow up.

As a teacher I saw the power of education but I also saw many pupils failing to reach their potential and denied opportunities.

And as an MSP I’ve worked tirelessly to deliver for people in this community and beyond, whether it be women injured by faulty medical products or workers blacklisted for standing up for their workmates – I have been on their side campaigning for justice. Where given the chance, I’ve tried to make a difference – and I know that Labour, the party of social justice, the party of devolution and the party of fairness, has made a difference for Scotland and can do so again. We have to use the powers we have and the powers we will get to make a difference in every community to transform Scotland and improve the lives of all our people.

And to achieve that, tackling poverty and health and wealth inequality must be at the heart of all we do. Waging war on the poverty that blights communities and ends lives prematurely will be my priority. It is to our great shame that families in our country cannot afford to feed their children or heat their homes and have to rely on foodbanks. A national strategy to end poverty in Scotland will be at the heart of our 2016 manifesto if I am Labour leader. Central to that will be a pledge to put an end to youth unemployment – no young person should be left behind. Training, skills and new jobs, opportunities for all, must be our ambition and Labour will deliver that.

And in education I will ensure that vocational education has the same priority as academic education so that we can prepare our young people to take up these new opportunities in the world of work.

And when people are in work they have to have a sense of security and feel valued. Nelson Mandela said that, ‘Poverty is not an accident, it is man-made and like apartheid and slavery it can be eradicated by the action of human beings.’ The zero hours, low pay insecure culture we see now is not just bad for people, it is bad for our economy. The most successful economies are also the most equal societies so it will be my aim to end exploitation and insecurity in the workplace and replace the national minimum wage with a living wage. It is unacceptable that in 2014 over 400,000 Scots earn under £7.85 per hour. Tackling poverty pay is a political choice and it is one that I will make.

The great John Smith said, ‘Governments are not impotent. They have the power at their disposal to shape events, bring about change, to improve the lives of the people whose trust they carry. That is why it is unacceptable, so unbearable to see the injustice in our country, the waste of human talent, the lack of hope, the loss of pride, because it is not inevitable.’

And he was right. Where we have the power to act, we must do so.

Now let me tell you about one of the greatest scandals of our time – social care. 500,000 bed days lost to the NHS because people are stuck in hospital costing £4,000 per week and can’t get home because our social care system doesn’t work for them. More and more care homes failing to provide an acceptable standard of care for our older people. Our mums and dads, grannies and grandads subjected to 15-minute care visits from carers who want to care but can’t do their job because of the way contracts are determined. I will put an end to the social care scandal and will make social care a rewarding and fairly paid career – this is about the wellbeing of our elderly people not about the profit margins of the company shareholders.

And in our NHS, the greatest social policy of the 20th century, and still the envy of the world, there is pressure like never before. GP’s closing waiting lists, A&E departments bursting at the seams, delayed discharges in every area, patients boarded out in wards not designed for their condition, staff shortages up and use of the private sector up. It is for these reasons I will bring forward a wholescale review of the NHS in Scotland to ensure it is fit to meet the demands of the 21st century. But let me be clear – there will be no privatisation of Scotland’s NHS under my leadership.

And there is one other issue where there is so much need that I could not leave here today without highlighting it. That is the growing housing crisis in Scotland. Poor housing impacts on health, educational attainment, access to employment and poverty. Over 150,000 people are on council waiting lists today – more than the entire population of the city of Dundee, and the equivalent of the number of folk in West Lothian.

This can’t go on. Labour can, and under my leadership will, tackle this head on.

As leader of Labour in Scotland I will bring forward a national house-building programme to be included in our 2016 manifesto.

As the next Labour First Minister of Scotland I will roll out that programme, building 50,000 new homes for rent over the term of that Labour government.

Not only will this provide much needed homes but it will also create skilled jobs, training places and put demand into the local economy. But fundamentally this is about realising that politics as usual is not enough when there are thousands of families in need of somewhere decent to live.

We must give people hope; we must act to end the housing crisis and we must move beyond sympathetic rhetoric and deliver decent homes for every child, for every family, for every person.

In my Scotland, a Labour Scotland, our Scotland, having a roof over your head will be a basic fundamental right.

And on the question of further powers for the Scottish Parliament, Labour delivered the Scottish Parliament. We initiated the powers that will come from the Scotland Act and we support further devolution now. But unlike the nationalists I have never confused constitutional change with social change. It’s not devolving more powers that makes a difference, but having the political will to use them that matters. And under my leadership Labour will use the new powers that come to change Scotland.

That is the sort of leadership that Labour needs to show and that’s the sort of leadership I’ll bring.

Let us once again be the ‘Labour’ party – the clue is in the name; the party that stands up for working people, the party that challenges poverty, homelessness and inequality.

Taking Labour forward, taking Scotland forward.

Our ambitions for Scotland must be big enough to match Scotland’s needs.

Labour values for a Labour Scotland.

That’s the challenge we face – let’s rise to it.

Despite the importance of the event I was calm, and felt I spoke well. We then asked everyone to stand up and hold aloft the Vote Neil posters and leaflets, which made for a brilliant photo. The hall was truly buzzing – it looked great.

I did a number of press interviews afterwards, and while they are desperate to paint me as a far left winger, I wouldn’t let them, as this would play right into Murphy’s hands. I keep saying my views (the views I have always had) are mainstream Scottish opinion today. The campaign will focus on policy and not personality with jobs, security at work, the living wage, social housing, social care and tax justice some of the key themes.

It was a fantastic day and a brilliant launch. The campaign team were delighted with how it went and so was I. It couldn’t have gone any better, and the fact a lot of my mates (not political animals) turned up made it even better. Not one to blow my own trumpet but I felt proud of myself today!

9 NOVEMBER: More than 1,000 people have offered to help with my leadership campaign, which I find astonishing. The media coverage of the launch is generally very positive. Great footage on the BBC and STV. The Sunday Mail, Sunday Post, Observer etc all very good, although the Sunday Herald is typically snidey.

I was at Murieston Village Hall, in Livingston, for my own Constituency Labour Party (CLP) nomination event. I spoke and took questions – the other candidates were invited but didn’t attend. I won the vote almost unanimously but not quite – with five supporting Murphy. I could name them, but I won’t! Katy lost by just six votes, which was unlucky, but I am very pleased. The CLP also donated £1,000 towards my campaign.

I found out tonight that Glasgow Kelvin, the biggest CLP in Scotland, has also supported my nomination – fantastic.

10 NOVEMBER: Meeting with the team at our office in Edinburgh. Niall Sookoo and Colin Stuart from Unite are now involved along with Stephen, Tommy and Anneliese. We ran through all the things we have to do and everything is falling into place. It is hectic but Anneliese is brilliant and is going to pull in some GMB friends to assist.

11 NOVEMBER: Went to the Scottish Parliament with the Scottish Mesh Survivors group to speak at the petitions committee, and it went very well. They are doing fantastic and we have worked superbly as a team on this issue.

I then did an interview for the Unite magazine which will go out to all members prior to the ballot.

In the evening I fulfilled a long-standing engagement by hosting an event for Pancreatic Cancer UK.

12 NOVEMBER: The Musicians Union and RMT have come out in support of my candidacy. Jackson Cullinane is doing a great job with the nominations. The MU are affiliated while RMT aren’t, but this is important as it shows I can extend my appeal beyond the party.

To Kirkcaldy CLP for nomination meeting event. Sarah and I were there but Murphy wasn’t. Given this is Gordon Brown’s constituency I expected it to go against me but I won pretty convincingly – very good result.

13 NOVEMBER: Picked up by Jimmy Thompson who is going to act as my driver during the campaign. Jimmy is an ex-miner from Musselburgh. He used to be the driver for Michael (Mick) McGahey and Arthur Scargill during the miners’ strike. He has a fantastic big people carrier with all mod cons and great comfort and loves driving so has agreed to be at our disposal for the duration. It’s such a help as I hate driving and will be able to prepare better if I can read in the back of the car.

First port of call is the Scottish Hazards conference where I was a speaker along with the SNP’s Clare Adamson. Clare spoke first and didn’t really say anything of substance. I spoke about the work of the hazards movement, advances in health and safety and threats to it from the election of a Tory government. There were a lot of Yes voters and former Labour people there so I was pleased to get a good reception from them – these are the people we need to win back!

Next it was up to the north east, where I met George Ramsay, the Dundee UCATT organiser. I have a lot of time for George. The Herald and Dundee Courier were there and I used this as an opportunity to launch my policy to build 50,000 social houses using bonds and new borrowing powers.

Then to the Dunfermline CLP nomination meeting at the town’s Our Lady’s Church. Sarah Boyack and I turned up. The meeting took place in the actual church, which was interesting and it felt pretty good. This is the CLP of Thomas Docherty MP, who is the most right wing Labour MP in Scotland – no one knows why he joined the Labour Party. There is a great story about Docherty and his burning ambition to be speaker of the House of Commons. He is one of those people who knows the rules inside out but only uses them to try and show how clever he is. Most of the Scottish Labour MPs think he is an arse and really can’t be bothered with him. Ex-miner and Scottish whip Davie Hamilton had been receiving complaint after complaint about Docherty’s annoying and self-promoting behaviour, so decided to call him in for ‘a wee chat!’ Picture the scene, gruff, straight-talking Davie and spoffy, wet Thomas…

Hamilton, ‘Right, Thomas son… aw the Scottish MPs are scunnered wi’ yer cairry oan!’

Docherty, ‘But David, David…’

Hamilton, ‘Shut up son and listen… now all yer colleagues think you’re a c**t! … and I have investigated these allegations and found out that you are a c**t, so start behaving yersel!’

Chat finished!

After the speech and questions I had to head home but asked Cara Hilton to text me the result. I was exceptionally pleased to win this CLP – apparently Docherty stormed out afterwards without speaking to anyone. Made my week that!

A lot of social media traffic tonight, with the top story Len McCluskey’s attack on Murphy in a blog piece. I would prefer them to talk positively about my campaign than to have a go at Murphy, but his analysis is spot on. Murphy won Shettleston and Cathcart tonight, whereas I won Clydebank, Leith, Edinburgh West, Dunfermline, Dundee and Maryhill. Patricia Ferguson MSP has come out in support of me.

Fiona received a call at home tonight from Murphy’s team, asking her to support him. Of course, she said she would!

14 NOVEMBER: Off to Thompson’s office in Bath Street, Glasgow for training with one of their media team. It was very helpful. I haven’t done too much media training so it opened my eyes, although I don’t want to lose my authenticity and come over all false. I will leave that to Jim and his soft spoken, jokey, ‘I’m everyone’s pal’ act!

The McCluskey piece is attracting a lot of attention and Murphy is loving it. It’s in all the papers.

Lisa Johnston is up from the GMB to offer help – she seems really switched on.

Nominations closed today: Murphy leads with 24 MPs, 17 MSPs, 2 MEPs, 100 Councillors, 34 CLPs and four affiliates.

I have six MPs, six MSPs, 75 Councillors, 18 CLPs and 10 affiliates.

Sarah Boyack has seven MSPs, three MPs, 13 Councillors, one CLP and one affiliate.

For deputy; Kezia Dugdale has 21 MPs, 32 MSPs, two MEPS, 149 Councillors, 48 CLPs and seven affiliates.

Katy Clark has eight MPs, three MSPs, 42 Councillors, seven CLPs and nine affiliates.

It’s clear the party machine, Iain McNicol (who is Murphy’s pal) and the appointment of Fiona Stanton as stand-in General Secretary for Scotland, means they are prepared to do anything to ensure Jim and Kez win, but we have them scared. They are wheeling the injured, the lame, the disinterested and the payroll vote out. Students are being intimidated and warned of career prospects, or lack of them, if they vote ‘the wrong way’.

15 NOVEMBER: Over to Glasgow for the STUC Scottish Labour women’s conference. I was met at the door by around 30 women comrades with a large banner and t-shirts saying Neil4leader! Great reception – our team really are up on how to handle these events and make the best of them.

Deputy candidates first – Katy is strong, confident and principled, while Kez tries to come across as the friendly, smiley girl next door.

I was up first in our debate and felt relaxed; I’m gaining in confidence. I spoke about housing, low pay, job insecurity etc being women’s issues, but also everyone’s issues. Murphy spoke without notes or using the lectern. He wants to show he is the statesmen and is smooth and relaxed. He doesn’t have much substance and is clearly moving left onto my territory to try and win votes.

The vibe in the room was positive and feedback was good.

Afterwards, Murphy asked Sarah and I if we could stick to a line on taxation, what with the Smith Commission at a critical point in their deliberations. I said I had no problem with this and that we need to let the Commission do its work, as did Sarah.

The post mortem in the pub concluded that we need to put clear red water between me and the rest on tuition fees, Trident, railways, PFI etc. as these are places Murphy cannot go.

16 NOVEMBER: This morning I was at BBC Scotland’s Pacific Quay base in Glasgow for The Andrew Marr Show. I have decided to ‘press the nuclear button’. Marr played a bit of Nicola Sturgeon’s speech about Trident and I said I agreed with her on it and that Trident should not be replaced, and that I have always been opposed to nuclear weapons. I also mentioned tuition fees, PFI, rail nationalisation etc. The pressure is now on Murphy to address these issues.

Stephen then drove me the short distance to Caledonian University where I took part in a youth and student conference debate. I was met outside by a group of students with the Neil4leader banner. Did a lot of photos and press.

At the Deputy hustings, Kez was doing the ‘I’m the students’ pal’ stuff, having worked for the NUS and come through the University-NUS-Labour students-researcher route. She should be at home here. Katy, as she does, spoke well on policy and showed she has real substance. She needs to be a wee bit lighter at times to make her seem more human, but she is doing well at these events.

My speech went well. I got in Iraq and said the war was a disaster which I had opposed from the beginning. I also raised Trident and tuition fees. In response, Murphy is now saying if he had known then what he knows now about Iraq he would have voted against it. This is utter bollocks. He was one of the most gung-ho for the war and also wanted to bomb Syria when Miliband opposed it. He really will say anything, and I suppose he will be opposed to tuition fees next! Or maybe that’s a step too far even for him.

Sarah gave a good speech and in it she spoke about list MSPs who ended up in parliament against all expectations. At that I raised my hand and got quite a laugh – it’s true though, as I had expected to be weeded out by party vetting as a dangerous socialist, never mind win a seat!

Trident stuff is going to be the issue in the news tomorrow – plan has worked great!

Someone told me the bookies have me at around 7/2 to win the contest, which is about right I’d say.

17 NOVEMBER: At The Tun in Edinburgh for Good Morning Scotland with Gary Robertson. He is a very robust and excellent interviewer and kept asking how things would be paid for. He was very aggressive, so this means they must be taking me seriously.

The Scotsman today has a cartoon of me depicted as Che Guevara and an editorial saying I won’t appeal to voters if Labour are on the fringes. Looks like the establishment piling in behind Jim. I heard today that the GMB political committee overruled Harry Donaldson’s recommendation in relation to the nomination last week. Very interesting!

I headed south to London, to the Red Lion in Westminster, where I met Owen Jones, who has offered to help me in any way he can. His mum and dad live in Falkirk and voted Yes but re-joined the party to support me. He is well connected and will do some supportive articles. He has done well as a left commentator. His books are very good and well researched.

It was then into Committee Room 13 in the House of Commons for a hustings with Scottish MPs. Well, if this isn’t hostile territory I don’t know what is. I had managed some really good prep with Neil Foster of the GMB (very clever and switched-on guy) and this really helped. The group is chaired by Michael McCann, who is very right wing and has a reputation as a bit of a bully. Murphy was all smooth and pally on his home patch and had clearly primed his supporters, such as Anne McGuire (who sat and glared at me the whole time), Gemma Doyle, a long time Murphy ally and member of Progress, and Ann McKechin, who is to the right of Osborne on taxation. Irrespective of the hostility, I perversely enjoyed it and didn’t allow them the opportunity to paint me as some sort of Marxist, militant, revolutionary nut job, which I’m sure displeased many of them.

Afterwards, I went into the House of Commons bar with a few colleagues. I ended up speaking to Graham Jones, an MP from Manchester, who started lecturing me on how to take on the SNP and said we just had to do what they were doing in his patch with UKIP (clueless). He didn’t know who I was and said, ‘I hear they are worried in Scotland as Findlay’s closing in on Murph!’ Well that made my day. I smiled and said nothing.

From our canvassing, Stephen has put out a press release saying we are only two per cent behind – now the Murphy camp WILL be getting very nervous!

18 NOVEMBER: Train to Edinburgh – got a text from Kevin Lindsay saying some of his members have reported how Murphy’s canvassers are saying to party members when they phone, ‘Oh, we don’t know how Neil voted in the referendum!’ Shameful. The reality is apart from Jim touring the country on an Irn Bru crate and shouting at people, I did more referendum public meetings than any other Labour politician (65 in total). I did many trade union events and public events in hostile territory arguing for a No vote, not on the basis of Better Together, but on the basis of solidarity and class interests; concepts completely alien to Murphy and his Better Together entourage.

A Daily Record survation action poll has Labour on 23 per cent for the General Election!

My train arrived in at Waverley Station a little late so just missed Salmond’s resignation statement but heard the end of Jackie Baillie’s speech (she is deputising in the absence of a Labour leader). She got the tone completely wrong. Ruth Davidson and Willie Rennie were good, while Stewart Stevenson spouted awful, sycophantic guff as only he could!

Scotland playing England at football tonight but will miss it because we are doing a TV debate for Scotland 2014.

Met Tommy and Stephen Low for a quick bite to eat before heading over to the TSSA offices to meet all the people who have been doing such brilliant work on the phones for us. The place was buzzing with around 40 people young and old working away and speaking to members. I thanked them all for their help and gave them encouragement to continue their great work. It was fantastic and very humbling to see the effort being put in on my behalf by students and young trade unionists – many of whom have a bright future.

No rest for the wicked as it was over to Pacific Quay for the Scotland 2014 debate with Sarah Smith. The audience comprised supporters from all three campaigns and I spotted many friends. I felt pretty relaxed and seemed to do quite well. I raised the issues I have been concentrating on and also mentioned I had 1,000 volunteers working on our campaign, which I think genuinely shocked Murphy – it was intended to!

19 NOVEMBER: Colleagues at parliament, and social media, very complementary about last night’s performance. I am beginning to enjoy this and feel much more at ease. Magnus Linklater came in today to do an interview. No doubt he will do me in as he is Establishment through and through. I enjoyed the joust, and raised TTIP and why Labour should be totally opposed.

Nicola Sturgeon sworn in today – she is the epitome of a career politician, having worked almost all her life for the top job, so it must be a real sense of achievement for her to get there. She is very capable but also very cold and will have to work on that if she is to be a success. The team around her will be critical but they are at the top of their game and streets ahead of the people we have. If I win I will clear the decks and bring in the best strategists, advisors, press folk etc. I will also use the really intelligent people we have in the movement in Scotland like Dave Watson, Richard Leonard, Jackson Cullinane and students such as Iona Baker and Ewan Gibbs as well as young trade unionists Jamie Caldwell and Sam Ritchie. These people are very capable but instead of being viewed as an asset, they have been seen as a threat, which is just plain daft.

Last night on Twitter I joked about whether I should wear a shirt and tie for the debate or my usual preference of a Fred Perry. Today I spoke to a group of fifth year pupils from Broxburn Academy who were visiting parliament. When it came to questions, one of them asked, ‘So, did you wear the Fred Perry on TV last night?’ I enjoyed that.

After that, I headed up to the Serenity Café on the Royal Mile for an MSP hustings. There were about 15 colleagues there, and it was pretty poor all round – all have already made up their mind.

Murphy’s side are being dragged left every single day. He is now talking about poverty, social housing, low pay etc. These are things he has never spoken about in his political life. He did say he didn’t want to raise council tax, so there is a real opportunity to ask how councils will be funded and jobs preserved. The reality is the council tax freeze is a disaster for jobs (40,000 have been lost), for services being cut across the board and for local democracy, as it is centrally imposed. Labour MUST reject this democratic outrage.

20 NOVEMBER: I was in at the Scottish Parliament early this morning, and spoke to Neil Foster of the GMB on the phone, before doing some more hustings prep. It was very helpful. Then it was into the chamber for Nicola Sturgeon’s first FMQs. She was trying far too hard to be all consensual. ‘I will listen, we will work together, I am a caring cuddly person.’ Dull, dull, dull – let’s see how long it lasts.

To the Dundee Marriott Hotel for hustings. Over 100 people there, and lots of support in Dundee from some great people. It was one of the best hustings yet. I felt I performed well. Murphy isn’t impressing people, despite his experience and a life in politics and having been a cabinet minister etc. He has surprisingly little to say about key basic issues and sounds false and vacuous. We bolted down to Edinburgh for the latter half of the Scottish Politician of the Year event. Sturgeon won the award again (yawn)! Hugh Henry got a committee award but the highlight of the night was the award given to Gordon Aikman for his outstanding campaign following his diagnosis with MND. His speech was magnificent. He really is a very dignified and humble guy who has captured everyone’s imagination. The award for the Who Cares Scotland team, for their work on care leavers, was also fully merited. I dealt with them a lot when I sat on the education committee and Neil Bibby and I forced the committee to meet them during our inquiry into the care system. A number of SNP members, including the convener Stewart Maxwell, were not keen but we embarrassed them into it.

21 NOVEMBER: Renfrewshire CLP hustings – this is the neighbouring CLP to Murphy and I expected it to be packed out with his people but it was evenly split. Stephen McCabe, Inverclyde council leader and Murphy cheerleader, was there. When it came to the questions he asked, ‘How would you vote if there was another referendum?’ I replied, ‘Given I did 65 meetings campaigning for a No vote, probably more than almost all other MPs and MSPs, I think my position was and is very clear!’ I also congratulated him on the most ridiculous question of the campaign! Mind you, at least he said out loud and to my face what Murphy’s team are saying on the phones to members. Pretty desperate stuff.

22 NOVEMBER: Met Katy Clark and her team for a canvassing session in Mayfield, Edinburgh, with by-election candidate Kenny Young. Over 20 in the team – decent response and he might just nick it as there is a strong local independent candidate who will split the vote.

The SNP held an event at the Hydro today where 12,000 turned up – bloody hell, 12,000! It was like a US convention with all the glitz and razzmatazz. Sturgeon treated like a rock star, which is quite bizarre but also something unseen in Scottish or even UK politics.

Spoke to Elaine Smith tonight. The party hierarchy are clearly having to invest in nappies as they see my campaign continue to build momentum. They are now pulling every trick in the book. Fiona Stanton is just obeying orders from McNicol and is pulling all the strokes. In the booklet to go out to candidates, the names of MPs, MSPs and MEPs who have nominated each candidate will be listed, but the names of CLPs and trade unions won’t so this will show a large number of nominations for Murphy and Dugdale and very little for Katy and I. Outrageous. On top of that there will be no secret ballot for MPs, MSPs and MEPs, so their vote will be published. This again is clearly designed to intimidate people into voting for the establishment candidate. Unite and ASLEF have complained. I spoke to Fiona Stanton and Anas Sarwar about it, but nothing will be done. We will be raising this in the media tomorrow. The party machine is in full flow to stop us having any chance of victory.

23 NOVEMBER: To the BBC’s Pacific Quay studios where I met Stephen Low and Tommy to prepare beforehand, then went on to do an interview with Gordon Brewer. All three of us were on with him. It was a really poor interview with little to get our teeth into. Very disappointing. Still, it is good to see the row over the candidate booklet making the headlines.

To Glasgow City Halls for hustings. They booked a pretty small room holding approximately 150, so many people couldn’t attend. There were lots of Murphy people there. Not a great atmosphere or much oomph to proceedings.

Newspapers full of Sturgeon at the Hydro and the radical Independence campaign’s 3,000 strong event, at which the self-important Alan Bissett read a ‘people’s vow’. Who the people are and what authority he has to make this vow I have no idea but he seemed awfully pleased with himself, so that’s good then!

Tom Watson MP, an old foe of Murphy from their NUS days, has done an article on why a Murphy win would be bad for Labour in Scotland. This is very helpful, even though I didn’t know he was doing it. Ivan Lewis MP has attacked Tom for this on Twitter.

24 NOVEMBER: Off to the Royal College of Nursing in Glasgow to hear the public inquiry report into Vale of Leven hospital deaths. Judge Lord MacLean said families were justified in their calls for an inquiry – major issues for the NHS, government and practitioners. A moving day for all families associated with this.

I then popped into Glasgow City Chambers for a Labour councillors’ hustings. A fantastic honour to speak in such a beautiful building and dramatic chamber. I felt I put in one of my best performances and rose to the occasion. I enjoyed it a lot. Matt Kerr, John Kelly – who has since tragically died from MND – Bill Butler, Jonathan Findlay, Emma Swift and many others were there supporting me, which was very encouraging.

Picked up by Jimmy Thompson and then down to Dumfries for the hustings. All three candidates did an interview with Borders TV beforehand and I said, ‘I think we need an MSP in parliament ready to take on Sturgeon right away,’ which was intended in a not-so-subtle-way to say to Sarah’s supporters, ‘Vote for me with your second preference and for mine to vote for Sarah with theirs.’ Murphy tried to laugh this off but was clearly taken aback and unhappy as he mentioned it afterwards. The usual questions came up in debate, like how to get us back into power, economic policy, austerity, council tax freeze etc. but afterwards a number of people, including councillors I didn’t know, came up offering their support. Elaine Murray MSP, who is supporting me, said I performed best, which gave me a boost. I really like Elaine, she is an honest person with good politics. Jimmy Thompson offered to give Sarah a lift home as the alternative was a very late train to Edinburgh. When we got into the car he opened up a cool box and passed Tommy and me a couple of ice cold beers – luxury!

25 NOVEMBER: Fight about the candidate’s booklet goes on.

To Shadow Cabinet for discussion on Smith Commission. After agreeing a line between the three leadership candidates on taxation prior to the Smith report, Murphy has today broken ranks and said he will introduce a 50 per cent tax rate – this is just a re-heat of Ed Balls’ policy and nothing new at all. MPs are furious about this – he was totally against this a year ago and now champions it as his policy. This after he had approached Sarah and I to stick to an agreed line on taxation. Utterly shameless and duplicitous. He is also talking about poverty, inequality and fairness. We have hauled him to the left on policy. The problem is he is completely lacking in credibility on many of these issues but some people have bought the idea that he is a winner.

Into the debating chamber for Shona Robison’s statement on Vale of Leven Hospital. She seems very cold and lacking in empathy.

To STV for interview with Scotland Tonight. Murphy claimed he didn’t have an inside line on the Smith Commission, which is utter bollocks, because I have no doubt Iain Gray and Gregg McClymont MP will have been keeping him fully informed all the way through.

26 NOVEMBER: The Smith Commission reported today with ALL parties signing up to the package of measures. The following are just some of what will be devolved; all income tax, quite a bit of welfare, housing benefit, attendance allowance, railways etc. It is a significant package of measures. The SNP, despite John Swinney signing up in full, are now rubbishing it before their signature dries on the agreement. They look bitter and grudging.

27 NOVEMBER: Papers full of the Smith Commission. Sturgeon’s statement in the chamber critical of what they have just supported.

To a packed Apex Hotel, in Edinburgh’s Grassmarket. First question was the best so far, ‘I don’t want to know about your policies, can you just tell me about your favourite band or music.’ Well that was easy, with The Jam, the Specials and punk and new wave getting an airing! Good question.

28 NOVEMBER: Up north to a hustings in the Kingsmill Hotel, Inverness. Fiona and Diane came with Tommy and I. The hustings was dull, with very little atmosphere and not a lot of audience reaction or participation; perhaps the worst yet. We all felt really flat afterwards.

29 NOVEMBER: Attended a councillor conference hustings in Glasgow, before going to Govanhill Baths, on the south side of the city, where community worker Jim Monaghan arranged for us to meet a group of BME community reps. The baths are amazing and were saved following a long sit-in by activists. The building is superb and there are plans to reinstate it, but it will cost millions. It could be a tremendous community hub for one of the most deprived and diverse neighbourhoods in Scotland (over 50 languages are spoken in Govanhill). I spoke to representatives of the Irish, Roma, Caribbean, French, Arabic, Pakistani and black communities to discuss the issues and challenges they face – it was a hugely interesting and educational meeting and made a real mark on me. Housing, poverty, exploitation in employment and access to services were the big issues raised.

30 NOVEMBER: Up to see my mum for her birthday then to Bathgate Partnership Centre for a Linlithgow CLP hustings. The party here is in a poor state and needs new blood and an overhaul. Murphy and Kez didn’t appear and it was good to get my old CLPs nomination.

Following the death of Tony Benn earlier this year I approached comrades on the left to organise an event to celebrate and commemorate his life. Stephen Wright duly obliged with a fabulous concert at the Mitchell Theatre tonight. Tony’s granddaughter Emily Benn was in attendance to receive a presentation of a gold badge to recognise the 40th anniversary of the UCS work, and I was privileged to present it to her. We had brilliant performances from James Grant, Rab Noakes, Arthur Johnston, Alistair McDonald, Sheena Wellington and others.

What a fantastic night with lots of friendly people on the left offering great support.