Richard Leonard survives Scottish Labour Party putsch

Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard has survived an attempted coup
Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard has survived an attempted coup
PA

Supporters of embattled Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard are set to exact revenge on his internal critics after an attempt to oust him failed yesterday.

In recent days the MSP has faced calls from several of his parliamentary colleagues and members of the Lords to stand down to help avoid disaster in next May’s Holyrood elections.

But a motion of no confidence in his leadership was withdrawn as the party’s ruling executive committee gathered yesterday.

With Leonard now looking secure until the Scottish elections, the committee passed a rule change to alter the procedures for selecting Holyrood regional list candidates, which account for 21 of the 24 Labour MSPs elected in 2016.

Under the change, which prioritises women at the head of each of the