Anas Sarwar resigned as Scottish Labour leader in July 2026 to take a UK ministerial role. The contest to replace him, running until 19 September, features only two male candidates after Monica Lennon failed to gain enough nominations from MSPs, MPs and affiliates. Jackie Baillie is serving as acting leader.
An all-male Scottish Labour leadership contest was treated as a problem by only a small minority: No won by nearly four to one. The context mattered — Monica Lennon’s failure to clear the nomination threshold made the question less theoretical, and more about who gets through the party machinery.
The floor’s most-respected No case reduced the issue to merit: “If they are the best people for the job, then who cares what sex.” Other No voices made the same argument more bluntly — “Capability trumps DEI” and “The best people for the job should be on the ballot” — while one voter joked that the winner could “wear a kilt to calm moaners”.
The Yes side argued that merit is not neutral when the route to the ballot is itself uneven. Its strongest-rated case said, “When capable female candidates are shut out by nomination thresholds, it highlights persistent structural barriers within the party machinery,” while another asked: “There has to be qualified and experienced women who can do job well in Scotland.”
The two sides were often answering different questions. No voters pointed to failed all-women selection lists, questioned whether political merit can even be measured, and warned that “Society has been feminised & sub par women elevated in seniority just for the sake of equality”; Yes voters countered that there is a pattern of “intelligent and capable women who are locked out of success”. One exchange descended into a dispute over whether criticism of Labour women amounted to hate, with the reply insisting that “evidence of failure is legion”.
That leaves a specific verdict on this page, rather than a general theory of representation: voters accepted an all-male contest as legitimate, but the Yes case ensured that the nomination process — not just the candidates’ sex — remained on trial.
“When capable female candidates are shut out by nomination thresholds, it highlights persistent structural barriers within the party machinery. Scottish Labour should lead by example on gender balance, rather than settling for an all-male contest at the top table.”
YES case · BenL · 3 respects · read the thread ↓
“If they are the best people for the job, then who cares what sex. That they aren't capable of managing their way out of a damp paper bag doesn't change that fact.”
NO case · Astobie1 · 4 respects · read the thread ↓
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14 Opinions
I would say that it's indicative, or metaphorical, of the problems in politics - we need more women in politics, and we need to protect women better in politics. In and of itself, candidates should be based on merit and policies and whether they align with the parties values, but the question asks for a problem; there are a few things that indeed need attention.
There has to be qualified and experienced women who can do job well in Scotland. Where are they? Do they get talked out of applying? The difficulty women have of getting to the top of their career is possibly due to male attitudes Firstly, women have to work harder and be far, far better than their male counterparts, men don't particularly like working for women as it feels upside down, Men feel women aren't capable of doing high powered, responsible jobs.
Best person for the job . Maybe the one who wins could wear a kilt to calm moaners.
I would usually say No because it doesn't usually matter if you are finding the best people (i.e. Burnham was clearly best for the job) but there comes a point (especially often with Labour) when there is a clear demonstrated pattern of intelligent and capable women who are locked out of success and that is when the answer tips into Yes.
As long as the candidates are the best for the roles and selection is on merit, then it's fine. Merit when it comes to selecting political candidates is questionable, though. Generally speaking, and looking at the quality of our politicians across the political spectrum, the standards are pretty low all round.
The best people for the job should be on the ballot - whatever their sex.
We should always aim for the best whether it’s a Director MP senior Army or Police officer. Society has been feminised & sub par women elevated in seniority just for the sake of equality. Rachel Reeves Diane Abbot Dawn Butler Bridget Phillipson Louise Haigh Evette Cooper etc all prime examples of very average people being elevated by dint of their sex not their talent or intelligence. So a big No, promote / recruit solely on ability.
If they are the best people for the job, then who cares what sex. That they aren't capable of managing their way out of a damp paper bag doesn't change that fact.
All-women selection lists have been a failure for Labour. 'Twas an early form of DEI, in its effect.
As long as the men are the best candidates it’s ok.