In a statement today, the Scottish Labour leader announced his resignation as leader with immediate effect.
The 59-year-old had led the party since 2017 and declared it was now time for the party to be taken on a different path.
Mr Leonard, who was an ally of former Labour Party leader, Jeremy Corbyn, has come under intense pressure following the party’s loss of support north of the border.
In a statement, the MSP for Central Scotland said: “I have thought long and hard over the Christmas period about what this crisis means, and the approach Scottish Labour takes to help tackle it.
“I have also considered what the speculation about my leadership does to our ability to get Labour’s message across. This has become a distraction.
“I retain my faith in the Labour Party as the party that offers hope to people and that remains the only vehicle for the realisation of that hope.
“Whilst I step down from the leadership today, the work goes on, and I will play my constructive part as an MSP in winning support for Labour’s vision of a better future in a democratic economy and a socialist society.”
As well as coming under intense pressure for his party’s support north of the border, his resignation also comes ahead of the Holyrood Elections in May.
Currently, the party has 23 seats in the Scottish Parliament – the third-largest in the Scottish Parliament.
In contrast, the SNP holds 61 seats in Holyrood, while the Tories has 30.
This is a breaking news story, more to follow…
