Andy Kerr tipped to replace Wendy Alexander as Scottish Labour leader

Jun 29 2008

FORMER health minister Andy Kerr is the bookies front-runner to take over from Alexander.

East Kilbride MSP Kerr, 46, who introduced the smoking ban under Jack McConnell, looks likely to face a challenge from ex-minister Iain Gray, 51.

Both will have to raise campaign funding - which ironically led to Alexander's demise.

Margaret Curran and Tom McCabe are also possible contenders but do not have widespread support within the party.

The party's caretaker manager over the summer will be deputy leader Cathy Jamieson.

But she has expressed little appetite to lead the party permanently.

Kerr and Gray have both served as government ministers and are known to want the job.

They are viewed as heavyweights with the ability to take on Alex Salmond in public debate.

Gray, 51, lost his Edinburgh Pentlands seat in 2003 to then Scottish Tory leader David McLetchie.

He became a special adviser at the Scotland Office before winning the East Lothian seat last May.

William Hill has offered odds of 1/4 for Kerr, 11/4 for Curran and 20/1 for Gray.