A top Labour MSP has said time is “running out” to save his party after another crushing Holyrood election defeat.
Daniel Johnson said the crushing loss raised “existential” questions for Scottish Labour.
In an article for the Record, he wrote: “Scottish Labour has failed to confront who our voters are, what motivates them, and how to win them over.”
His wake up call came after Anas Sarwar led Labour to their fifth defeat in a row to the SNP at Holyrood.
The party has also gone backwards at every Scottish Parliament election since 1999.
Johnson, tipped as a possible leadership candidate, did not hold back in his analysis of the latest defeat.
He wrote: “This time is different—time really is running out.”
The Edinburgh Southern MSP added: “We have to accept that for many voters, the SNP remains the default choice to protect Scottish interests.”
He said the “main existential conundrum” is Scottish Labour’s relationship with the UK party.
Senior party figures say Keir Starmer’s performance in Government made it impossible for Labour to beat the SNP.
Johnson wrote: “Despite rebranding, a strong leader, and picking fights with UK leadership, we suffered from the UK Government’s unpopularity rather than being judged on our own terms.”
He said the “structure” of the relationship should be looked at, but claimed there are more “fundamental” questions.
Johnson said the “mythical traditional workers from industrial Scotland are gone” and Scottish Labour had to work out what “working people” meant in 2026:
“Now is not a time for egos or personalities. It is for asking who are we, who are we for, what do we want to do and how are we going to do it.”
It comes as Scottish Labour prepares for a bruising leadership contest to succeed Sarwar.
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Monica Lennon, who will be back as an MSP within days, has said she is running for the job.
North East Scotland MSP Michael Marra is also certain to run, with fellow MSP Paul Sweeney is another name mentioned.