Labour MSP Neil Findlay will try and evoke the spirit of former South African president Nelson Mandela today at the official launch of his party leadership campaign.
The former teacher, housing officer and brick layer, who was first elected to Holyrood in 2011, will impress upon people that he is “not a career or a machine politician” but a man of the people who is determined to tackle poverty and inequality.
Mr Findlay will say: “The most equal societies are the most successful societies so it will be my aim to end exploitation and insecurity in the workplace replacing the national minimum wage with a living wage.”
The Lothians MSP is determined to end youth unemployment and ensure vocational education has the same priority as academic education in schools to prepare people for work.
Mr Findlay will say: “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 being’.”
Mr Findlay, who is holding a launch event in his home town of Fauldhouse, West Lothian, will say that a national strategy to end poverty will be at the heart of Labour’s 2016 election manifesto if he is leader.
Labour MSP Sarah Boyack launched her bid for the party’s leadership in Edinburgh yesterday.
She said “bold and radical” new approaches were needed in areas such as local government and the NHS.
Ms Boyack said the party must be honest in the debate about local government funding which she said has been under pressure from SNP centralisation and the “under-funded” council tax freeze.
The former Scottish Executive minister pledged to be a “unifying leader” and make the party “fit for purpose”.
East Renfrewshire MP Jim Murphy is also standing for the party leadership following the resignation of Johann Lamont earlier this month.
The new leader will be announced on December 13.
Meanwhile, First Minister in-waiting Nicola Sturgeon has issued a fresh appeal to Labour supporters to vote SNP in the general election next year.
Speaking in Dundee last night, she said: “Lend us your vote so that we can remove the Labour roadblock to change.
“Vote SNP to keep alive that dream of a better country.”