Scottish Labour leader vote closes

Ken Macintosh and Kezia Dugdale have been campaigning and debating during the summer weeks

Voting has closed in the election to choose a new Scottish Labour leader.

About 15,000 party members and 6,000 affiliated and registered members are entitled to take part in the ballot.

MSPs Kezia Dugdale and Ken Macintosh are vying for the role vacated by former MP Jim Murphy in June.

Members have also been voting in the Scottish party's deputy leadership race, which is being contested by Richard Baker, Alex Rowley and Gordon Matheson.

Analysis by Brian Taylor, BBC Scotland political editor

It has been a two-horse race that has been some-what eclipsed by the UK contest.

There's a remarkable parallel - voting closing in the Scottish contest and ballot papers going out in the Britain-wide contest. The result of that UK election being declared on 12 September.

That parallel link if you like is a reminder that however much they may wish for their own autonomy, the party's fortunes in Scotland are not solely determined by Scottish effort and are linked to the party across the UK as a whole.

I don't think either Kezia Dugdale or Ken Macintosh would be particular soulmates of Mr Corbyn's politics. Both have declared that they would respect the outcome of the UK leadership contest.

Mr Corbyn is in Edinburgh and Glasgow today and he is setting out his own policy platform.

That platform includes scrapping Trident, renationalisation of the railways and energy and higher taxes for the rich - a policy platform he says he's setting out in Scotland because Scotland, he says, is a key example of where Labour has become disconnected.

Acting leader Iain Gray acknowledged that the party had "a mountain to climb".

"With a new leadership team in place we will have an opportunity to look to the future, and get back on the road to regaining the trust of the people of Scotland," he said.

"It's a chance we will seize, to make clear our Labour vision of a Scotland in which people have the chance to make the best life possible for themselves, their families and their communities.

"No matter who wins everybody in our movement must pledge to work together as we approach the Scottish Parliament elections next May. Only together can we set out a positive Labour vision of transforming Scotland and properly hold the SNP and Tory governments to account."

Lothians list MSP Ms Dugdale, 33, said the time for "licking our wounds" was "long over" for the party.

"If I am elected tomorrow I'll hit the ground running. Because for too many people in Scotland their ability to get on in life isn't determined by their talent, hard work and ambition, but by the circumstances they were born into," she said.

"I want a Scotland that backs parents who just want the best for their kids, young couples trying to buy their first home and someone who wants to take a risk by starting a new business.

"If I am elected tomorrow I'll work night and day to renew the Scottish Labour Party so that we meet the hopes and aspirations of all Scots."

Mr Macintosh, who is MSP for the constituency of Eastwood, said he wanted Labour to "begin the fightback".

He added: "My appeal to be more open, more willing to work with others and to put the issues first has resonated amongst those whose support we need to win back.

"I have spelled out how I intend to transform our party and I hope we can go on and transform Scotland.

"I will make us the positive force for change we know we can be and to help make this the strong, decent and compassionate and caring country we all want it to be."

Party members will find out who their Scottish leader is at an event in Stirling on Saturday.

Mr Murphy resigned as Scottish Labour leader after the party lost 40 of its 41 seats in the Westminster election in May.

As well as the contest in Scotland, party members are also in the process of choosing their next UK leader.

MPs Jeremy Corbyn, Andy Burnham, Liz Kendall and Yvette Cooper are fighting for the post, the winner of which will be announced during a special conference on 12 September.