Richard Leonard could oust rebel Labour MSPs and replace them with female 'key workers' under radical plan

campus lockdowns across Scotland, Richard Leonard has warned. The Scottish Labour leader criticised ministers at Holyrood and Westminster for failing to heed expert advice on the risks posed by undergraduates returning en masse to halls of residence this month.

Richard Leonard is backing a move to starve rogue employers of coronavirus financial aid.The MSP has launched a campaign with former shadow chancellor John McDonnell to punish those who abuse workers through zero-hour contracts, avoid tax and pollute the environment.In his first Commons intervention since returning to the back benches, McDonnell will present a Bill at Westminster on Wednesday to set up a Good Business Commission.Leonard, who will lodge a motion at Holyrood to promote the Bill,

Get the stories that interest you straight to your inbox every day with our personalised newsletterA record one-day rise of 486 new coronavirus cases in Scotland has been confirmed as fresh lockdown restrictions kick into action.Across Scotland, a total of 25,495 positive tests have been recorded since the end of February from 738,733 tests carried out.Reflecting on the rise in positive tests over the last 24 hours, which has seen a ban on household gatherings introduced across all of Scotland,

pandemic in late March.

Keir Starmer and Scottish leader Richard Leonard to back urgent drugs law reforms to save lives.The Labour Campaign for Drug Policy Reform (LCDPR), backed by 16 MPs and 4 MSPs, yesterday launched its drugs manifesto, which broadly back the reforms the Daily Record has been demanding.Many MPs are understood to be frustrated and angry at the Labour leadership’s slowness in getting behind plans to treat drug addiction as a health rather than a crime issue.The LCDPR calls for the Parliamentary

Sir Keir Starmer is to appeal to former Labour voters who switched to the SNP to “take another look” at the party under his leadership.The Labour leader is to use a speech at the party’s online conference to make a direct plea to lost Labour voter in Scotland and Conservatives in England.Starmer will acknowledge the lack of trust in Labour that led to the collapse of the Labour vote in Scotland and some north of England constituencies under Jeremy Corbyn.Stamer will address party members in his

Taylor Swift has lent a couple of UK independent record shops a helping hand by delivering them each a box of signed copies of her new album ‘Folklore’. Assai Records, which has branches in Edinburgh and Dundee, and Resident Records in Brighton both received shipments last week.Assai owner Keith Ingram told BBC Scotland: “The last 24 hours have just been bonkers.

Ibrox backline has yet to concede a league goal in seven outings – breaking a 114-year-old Scottish record – ahead of today’s trip to face Hibs at Easter Road.Gerrard says his coaching staff and players must share the credit.But the former Liverpool hero insists his squad can still improve in terms of being hard to break down –
something he learned from the likes of Rafa Benitez, Gerard Houllier and Roy Hodgson at Anfield.He said: “I’ve got nothing but admiration for Rafa but I’ve tried to lean

Scottish Labour to move on from recent divisions by urging colleagues to “pull together”. He backed Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard and also praised an MP who had considered quitting the party last year.

Get the stories that matter to you sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter.RICHARD Leonard has appealed for an extension to the government’s job retention scheme.The Central Scotland MSP says this would be “good for people, jobs and the economy”.More than 42,000 workers across North Lanarkshire have benefited from the scheme, which is due to close at the end of next month.Scottish Labour leader Mr Leonard said: “It is crucial that the scheme is maintained to help save jobs and keep

Protect Scotland app, according to Nicola Sturgeon. Kirsty Feerick's partner Daniel Rafferty tested positive for Covid-19 today having come down with symptoms, including a loss of taste and smell.Daniel, 26, had been feeling run down without feeling badly ill before suddenly being unable to taste or smell anything at all on Thursday.

A singer-songwriter is setting up what is believed to be Scotland’s first record label for former prisoners.

Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard has been submitted for a crunch meeting of the party's governing body tomorrow.The Daily Record understands it has been signed by around one third of members on Scottish Executive Committee (SEC).Leonard is under pressure to resign over poor election results and dismal opinion poll ratings.Four Labour MSPs and peers have publicly called for the left winger to quit, but he has refused and hit out at his critics.The leader’s defenders believe the trouble is

party members they have 'underestimated' him and slammed their "despicable" calls for him to step down. As the party civil war intensifies, Leonard said he needed to 'remind a small group of people' that they had underestimated his resolve.

Richard Leonard has said the row over whether a leadership challenge can be mounted against the embattled Scottish Labour leader could end up in the courts.MSP Daniel Johnson, who has urged Leonard to stand down, said the view that Holyrood colleagues cannot trigger a contest is legally challengeable.Leonard is fighting to hold on to his job after a mutiny by MSP colleagues.Johnson, James Kelly, Jenny Marra and Mark Griffin have all called on the left-winger to quit, as have four party peers.As

Richard Leonard say they have the numbers required for a leadership challenge against him.MSPs James Kelly and Daniel Johnson claim to have the five signatures necessary for a contest, but they have demanded clarity amid disagreement on the rules.Leonard, who has been in post for nearly three years, is under pressure over terrible election results and dismal opinion polls.Four MSPs - Kelly, Johnson, Jenny Marra and Mark Griffin - have all called on him to quit, as have four party peers.His

Richard Leonard’s accent - by her own party. Dehenna Davison, MP for Bishop Auckland in the north of England, has been criticised for a tweet blaming the leader of Scottish Labour’s accent as the reason for the party’s decline.

Richard Leonard has doubled down on his vow to stay as Labour leader into the Scottish elections despite a volley of calls from colleagues to step down. The beleaguered Scottish Labour leader began what is expected to be a week of fightback interviews this week with an early morning appearance on Sky News.