It’s not about lame duck PM Starmer but who gets the key to Bute House …
by Democrat reporter
Scottish Labour has secured the funds it needs to run the most sophisticated campaign in the history of devolution, the party has revealed.
Scottish Labour co-campaign chair Douglas Alexander confirmed that the party had already raised £1.1 million and counting as the regulated period for the Holyrood election began.
The MP explained Scottish Labour will have the “most sophisticated” digital operation, as well as the “largest and most effective ground campaign” of any party in Scotland in the coming months.
Mr Alexander is co-chair of the Scottish Parliamentary election campaign, alongside Scottish Labour Deputy Leader Jackie Baillie.
Dame Jackie Baillie, Douglas Alexander, Keir Starmer and Bute House, residence of the First Minister of Scotland.
He spoke after Scottish Labour raised nearly £500,000 in the final weeks of 2025, which brings the party’s May election fund to around £1.1million.
Douglas Alexander MP said: “Scottish Labour is up for the fight and absolutely determined to win the Scottish Parliament election.
“We are unleashing the most sophisticated and largest digital operation of any party in Scotland, reaching one million Scots every week.
“We have the largest and most effective ground campaign of any party, and between now and polling day, we will have one million conversations about Scotland’s choice.
“And during the festive period, we raised almost £500,000, meaning we have an election fund sitting at £1.1 million, and rising.
“Every single penny will be used to make clear the choice facing Scotland this May.
“A third decade of SNP failure with John Swinney – or new energy, new ideas and fresh leadership for Scotland with Anas Sarwar as First Minister.”
Jackie Baillie MSP said: “This election is not about Keir Starmer, Westminster, or Nigel Farage – it is about who you want as First Minister of Scotland.
“In four months’ time, there is a clear choice to make – a new direction with Anas Sarwar, or a third decade of decline under John Swinney and the SNP.
“Scottish Labour has the ideas, energy and vision to enable Scots to turn the page on almost 20 years of SNP mismanagement – which has left our public services including our NHS utterly neglected.
“We firmly believe that a better future is possible, despite the SNP’s narrative of grievance and despair.
“As a party, we will be reaching out to as many people across the country as we can, to invite them to be a part of our campaign to give Scotland that new direction.”