Our Politics newsletter is now daily. Join thousands of others and get the latest Scottish politics news sent straight to your inbox. Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Crushed Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray yesterday insisted Ed Miliband did not need to parachute troubleshooters in from London to fix his broken party.



Gray, who announced he will resign as leader in the autumn just hours after leading his party to a catastrophic defeat, said a "radical reappraisal" was needed.



But he said the Scottish party, not Westminster strategists, should lead the review and ring the changes.



Gray accepted responsibility for the result that left the party with just 37 MSPs, but said more "longstanding problems" were also a factor.



His campaign failed to touch voters and Labour's ousted MSPs and activists have slated its negativity and the failures of the leadership to properly target the SNP until far too late in the day or woo disgruntled Lib Dem voters who deserted to the Nats in droves.



Gray will announce details of his plans for a comprehensive review within days to a group meeting of Labour MSPs.



It will look at why the party who were 10 points ahead in opinion polls just a few months ago saw their vote crumble in traditional heartlands.



Gray said: "It will be a rootandbranch examination of the structures and organisations of the party in Scotland and the future direction it will take.



"We must not shy away from a fundamental and radical reappraisal."



Westminster MPs will be involved in the review but it could be led by former heads of the Scottish party such as Henry McLeish or Jack McConnell. Outsiders and political academics could also be enlisted for impartial expertise.



Gray, who held on to his East Lothian seat by only 151 votes, said he accepted the blame for Labour's worst election defeat in 80 years.



He said: "I take responsibility for my role as leader in the campaign that led to this result.



"However, I think there are more longstanding problems for Labour that were in play in this election.



"I also believe that our campaign had a positive message focusing on jobs a priority of the Scottish people and eradicating youth unemployment.



"Compared to the SNP message, I still maintain Labour had the more positive agenda.



"It is ironic that Alex Salmond tried as much as possible not to speak about the SNP's two core policies independence and the local income tax.



"Now he has an overall majority, we will now see how he will act on these."



The review will look at Labour's failure to appeal beyond their core vote.



It will also look at the criticism that Labour had turned off voters by negative campaigning. The calibre and selection of MSPs will also be examined. With many well known Labour MSPs including Andy Kerr, Tom McCabe and David Whitton losing their seats in Thursday's meltdown, the party are left with a largely inexperienced team at Holyrood.



An insider admitted: "There are big questions over Labour's approach to devolution, dating back to the days of Donald Dewar.



"There is a feeling among some people that Labour sees Westminster as the A team and Holyrood as the B team.



"Whereas the SNP had the first team is at Holyrood and the second team is at Westminster."



Former first minister McLeish said change was needed, adding: "I would like to see the Labour Party in Scotland being given much more autonomy, flexibility and a much greater say in our own affairs than we currently have.



"I have the greatest respect for Ed Miliband. He wants to pursue progressive centreleft politics and so do I.



"If we can get his blessing to be more distinctly Scottish and be concerned about pride, passion and patriotism, then I think we can stop looking over our shoulder at Westminster so much.



"We also have a clearer sense of our policies and priorities. During the election campaign, we adopted a freeze on council tax and the SNP's policy on tuition fees. These are not policies supported throughout the party.



"We have to be clear that when we do something, we do it with the heart and soul of the party."



Tony Blair's former spin doctor Alastair Campbell also suggested more top Westminster Scots such as Jim Murphy should follow Donald Dewar and Alex Salmond and leave London to raise the bar at Holyrood.



Speaking after a Chamber of Commerce dinner in Inverness, he blogged: "There was a general view among the business people that Scottish heavy hitters among Labour ranks in Westminster need to think about 'doing a Salmond' and heading to Holyrood."



But some party insiders said there was no point in launching a review just days after the SNP's victory and before Labour has a new leader.



A senior politician said: "This announcement is too fast and is wrong. Of course, there needs to be a complete review of the organisation and structure of the Scottish Labour Party.



"But it cannot be led by the UK leader and the outgoing Scottish leader.



"Michael Foot did not lead a review after the 1983 election. Neil Kinnock became the leader and then completely revamped Labour's policy and that is the right way to do these things.



"This should be put on hold until a Labour leadership has taken place."



ELECTION 2011: THE NUMBERS



1,991,051 Scots voted in Holyrood poll



per cent of Scots who turned out 50



9 more MSPs than all other parties combined give SNP outright majority



sitting Labour MSPs who lost seats 13



22 more MSPs now represent the SNP in the parliament



Lib Dems who lost £500 deposits after failing to poll five per cent 25



5,000,000 pounds given to the SNP by bus tycoon Brian Souter



151 votes gave Iain Gray a majority in East Lothian



15,295 votes gave Alex Salmond a majority in his seat of Aberdeenshire East



15,580 votes won by the BNP 0.8 per cent of those cast



639,461 constituency votes cast for Labour, a drop of 0.5 per cent



902,915 constituency votes cast for the SNP, an increase of 12.5 per cent



