Former Labour prime ministers Gordon Brown and Tony Blair have endorsed their fellow Scot, Ian Murray, in his bid to become Labour's new deputy leader.
Blair said that Murray, who is the only Labour MP remaining in Scotland after the 2019 general election, made a “strong argument” for the post to help oversee a change in direction for the party.
Meanwhile, Brown said that Murray’s commitment to promoting science and innovation impressed him.
Brown said: "I know Ian Murray to have been committed to and directly involved in supporting investment in science in our country.
"I think that as a candidate whom I support for the deputy leadership he can ensure that the next Labour manifesto will give the priority to science and innovation that scientists deserve and is the best way forward for our country.”
The boost of their support will be of huge encouragement for Murray, who is trailing frontrunner Angela Rayner in the reckoning.
As is the case in the leadership contest, deputy leadership candidates must win nominations from either 33 constituency Labour parties or two unions and one affiliate group.
Rayner has garnered the support of three unions, namely Unison, GMB and Usdaw, and is the sole candidate on the final ballot for deputy leader to date.
Murray, along with fellow hopefuls Dawn Butler, Rosena Allin-Khan and Richard Burgon, have until February 14 to win the endorsements they need to make the final ballot.
With Burgon backed by the United and BFAWU unions, he is the most likely to be the second candidate to cross the threshold and join Rayner.
Murray can count the Labour Movement for Europe and Scientists for Labour among his supporters.
He has been a vocal critic of Labour’s 2019 general election campaign and of Jeremy Corbyn’s tenure as party leader.
Paying tribute to Brown and Blair for their support, Murray said: "The only way to get Labour back into power is to change our party once again.
"If members are happy with remaining in opposition and want more of the same, they shouldn't vote for me - they should vote for a continuity candidate.”
The former prime ministers are yet to declare who they will support in the leadership contest, with Sir Keir Starmer and Lisa Nandy the only two candidates to have reached the final ballot as of Wednesday afternoon this week.
