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Scottish Labour has been plunged deeper into chaos after the party’s top official was forced from his post in the midst of a damaging civil war.

General Secretary Brian Roy this morning broke the news to staff that he is leaving with immediate effect after five years.

The shock departure came after discussions with Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard about the party’s disastrous performance in recent years.

Roy, the son of former Motherwell and Wishaw MP Frank Roy, was popular with Labour staff and has worked in various roles for the party for the past 12 years.

(Image: Getty Images)

He was seen as a talented election organiser and somebody who had managed to maintain good relationships with all wings of the party during the bitter internal battles that have raged since Jeremy Corbyn became UK leader.

The dramatic development comes as the party is in freefall in Scotland, with senior figures openly fighting with each other over whether to allow indyref2.

In the biggest test of his leadership to date, Leonard effectively lost control of the party this week after shadow secretary John McDonnell defied his position by saying Labour would not block a second referendum independence.

Scottish Labour sank to a dismal fifth place in the European Parliament elections in May, returning zero MEPs.

Roy’s departure will be seen as further disruption at a time of crisis.

He said in a statement: “After 12 years working for the Labour Party, under four UK Labour leaders and seven Scottish leaders, it is time for me to move on to new challenges.

“Having been at the very centre of Scottish Labour during the most turbulent political times, I have worked hard to unite the Party, drive our campaigns forward, develop and diversify our candidates, and modernise our campaign machine.

“It has been a privilege to work with Labour Prime Ministers and a Labour First Minister, with many leaders in between, and I sincerely wish Richard Leonard and Jeremy Corbyn the very best as they prepare to win again as a Party of government.”

Leonard said: “On behalf of Labour Party members up and down Scotland I want to thank Brian for his dedication and hard work for our Party over the last 12 years.

(Image: PA)

“His extensive knowledge of, and loyalty to, the Labour Party, and his passion for our values, remains undiminished. He has led the Party organisation and the Party’s staff as our General Secretary through a very turbulent time.

“We all wish him every good wish for the future.”

UK Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: “Brian Roy’s experience and knowledge has been invaluable to Scottish Labour, and to me personally, and I thank him for his dedication to our Party and our movement.

“Brian is Labour through and through, and his charity cycle ride for Palestine is a great example of his commitment to international solidarity and justice.

“I wish him all the very best for the future.”

Long-term Labour staff were left dismayed at the development.

One senior source said: “It feels like this could be the end of Labour as we know it. Brian was the only one left who knows how to actually run and organise elections.

“The institutional memory he brought to the role was extraordinary. Some people looked down on him and felt he wasn’t that bright and was stuck in his ways.

“But he’s a grafter and a fixer. He has also been a phenomenal survivor - up until now.

“He’s also smarter than he gets credit for and you don’t need a degree in classics to run the Scottish Labour Party.”

And Scottish Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser said : “The Labour party in Scotland are battering themselves into oblivion.

“The last thing they need is more interference from their madcap extremists in London.

“Barely a week goes by when a good person doesn’t jump from the Labour ship, and it just inflicts deeper wounds from which they won’t recover.

“If Scottish Labour can’t even stand up against their own party, how can anyone expect them to stand up to the SNP?”

Roy’s deputy Lorna Finlayson has been appointed interim General Secretary.