Monica Lennon, who lost her seat at last month’s Holyrood election, has previously called for Scottish Labour to break away from the UK party.
Andy Burnham should not be viewed as a “messiah” who can instantly change Scottish Labour’s fortunes after another Holyrood election “disaster”, a former MSP has said.
Monica Lennon suggested the party north of the Border needed “more control over our own destiny” after it suffered a fifth consecutive defeat in a Scottish Parliament poll to the SNP.
Burnham is now widely expected to succeed Keir Starmer as the new UK Labour leader next month, with the PM last week announcing his intention to quit Downing Street.
Lennon, who was one of several Labour MSPs to lose their seats in May, blamed Starmer for the SNP’s victory and claimed “the Scottish election disaster was made in Downing Street”.
She recently campaigned on Burnham’s behalf in the Makerfield by-election, which saw the former Manchester mayor romp to victory ahead of Reform UK.
Lennon said: “On the doors, it felt like people had a connection with Andy Burnham. He’s been on a journey, and he has perhaps evolved his views, but I think his values have remained constant.
“His skills, which differ from Keir Starmer, are that Andy Burnahm is comfortable being a politician, is comfortable listening to people, and letting people know why he’s changed his mind. Perhaps it is a new era for the Labour party.
“Sadly for Keir Starmer, he is ending his time in Government as a deeply unpopular Prime Minister. I don’t think anyone in the Labour movement takes any joy from that. But the party will have to move on.
“For me, it’s not just about changing the leader in Downing Street. The Scottish election disaster was made in Downing Street, but Andy Burnham is not a messiah.”
Lennon, who unsuccessfully challenged Anas Sarwar for the Scottish Labour leadership in 2020, has previously suggested the party north of the Border should consider separating itself from the UK operation in order to end SNP accusations it is little more than a “branch office”.
She continued: “Keir Starmer was the issue. Anyone who knocked doors for Scottish Labour could not get beyond how disappointed people were. They expected better from Labour and there was a frustration the pace of change was too slow.
“But at the end of day, even if people liked our policies, they couldn’t get beyond Keir Starmer.”
Lennon said Scottish Labour was now undertaking a “big review” which would ask “searching questions” on big issues such as its position on the constitution and an IndyRef2.
She added: “It’s not for Andy Burnham, or a leader of UK Labour to decide, what we need to do within Scottish Labour is have more control over our own destiny.”
Asked if it meant Scottish Labour breaking away from the UK party, Lennon added: “That’s an option. Nothing is off the table. People have read my views over the years.
“But we have an opportunity over the summer for Scottish Labour to come together and make sure we don’t shy away from responsibility.”
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