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Labour will appoint a Dundee-focused party organiser to try to revive its flagging fortunes in the city if Jim Murphy is elected Scottish leader, The Courier can reveal.

Speaking ahead of the first leadership hustings involving Mr Murphy, shadow health secretary Neil Findlay and Lothians MSP Sarah Boyack, the former secretary of state for Scotland said he will make regaining people’s trust a key target if he secures the party’s top job.

The area used to be a Labour stronghold, with the party holding all four constituency seats and controlling the council in 2003.

Since then, though, the SNP has risen to dominate the political landscape with a majority on the local authority and all but the Westminster Dundee West seat.

It was also Scotland’s Yes City, delivering the strongest backing for independence in September’s referendum despite Mr Murphy’s efforts during his controversial street tour.

Mr Murphy laid out an optimistic set of targets, including winning in the city in next year’s UK general election and the 2016 Scottish Parliament election, as well as securing the largest number of seats on the city council in 2017.

He also pledged to hold a shadow cabinet meeting in Dundee and appoint a new party organiser with specific responsibility for campaigning work in the city.

Mr Murphy said: “I want to earn the trust of the people of Dundee again, so that they can once again make a positive choice for Scottish Labour. I am confident that we can win in the city again.

“The challenges facing Dundee are great. Too many people are living in poverty despite being in work, and too many children are being let down by the city’s schools.

“The fact that there are so many foodbanks in Dundee is a moral outrage.”

He added: “The referendum divided Dundee, but we must move on from that.

“I don’t care if Dundonians voted Yes or No, or if they vote Labour, used to vote Labour or have never voted for us before.

“I want to work with everybody in Dundee to increase prosperity in the city and cut poverty, especially for those in work.”