Widow of late Labour leader John Smith reveals who she is backing in deputy race

The widow of late Labour leader John Smith tonight backed Scotland’s only Labour MP to become the party’s second-in-command.

Baroness Elizabeth Smith threw her weight behind Ian Murray’s bid for the deputy leadership.

She said the Edinburgh South MP would “continue the fight for the Labour values John represented”.

The endorsement is the latest boost to Mr Murray’s campaign to succeed Tom Watson, who stood down from Parliament at December’s general election.

Mr Smith led Labour from 1992 to 1994 and was tipped to lead the party back into Government.

But his plan was cut short when he suffered a heart attack and died.

Tony Blair became leader and won the 1997 general election – the first of three triumphs he spearheaded.

Revealing her support for Mr Murray, Baroness Smith said: “He understands the need to change the Labour Party to win again.

“Ian represents the constituency my late husband John and I lived in, and where I still live today.

“He is respected and admired by voters of all parties and none for his principled and pragmatic approach to politics.

“John is one of Ian’s political heroes and I know that as deputy leader he would continue to fight for the Labour values John represented.

“When John became leader of the Labour Party in 1992, he knew that the Labour Party had to listen to what the public had told it in that general election, and change to win.

“By goodness, John changed the party and he would have won.

“Now, almost 30 years later, Ian will do the same, and that’s why I’m backing him to be deputy leader.”

Welcoming the backing, Mr Murray said: “John Smith is my political hero and I’m very proud to have Elizabeth’s support in this contest.

“After the 1992 general election defeat John recognised that Labour had to change.

“He would have gone on to become Prime Minister but the changes he made in the short time he was leader paved the way for Labour’s return to power in 1997.

“The Labour governments that followed transformed lives, lifting hundreds of thousands out of poverty, and that’s what Labour needs to do again.

“But it won’t happen if we choose a continuity candidate in this contest.

“I am the change candidate and grassroots Labour members have put me on the ballot.

“As John famously said, ‘All I ask is the opportunity to serve’.”