Miliband woe: Scathing comments from Tony Blair as party chief quits
ED Miliband's leadership came under more pressure today after his Scottish counterpart quit and Tony Blair appeared to ridicule his chance of electoral success.
The Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont resigned last night over accusations Ed Miliband’s party treats Scotland as a “branch office”.
Ms Lamont’s scathing exit statement come as Tony Blair predicts David Cameron will retain his leadership in next year’s general election.
The Glasgow MSP called for greater autonomy for the Scottish party and criticised UK colleagues for not understanding the politics of post-referendum Scotland.
Announcing her resignation Ms Lamont told the Daily Record: "Just as the SNP must embrace that devolution is the settled will of the Scottish people, the Labour Party must recognise that the Scottish party has to be autonomous and not just a branch office of a party based in London.
She added: "There is a danger of Scottish politics being between two sets of dinosaurs ... the Nationalists who can't accept they were rejected by the people, and some colleagues at Westminster who think nothing has changed."
Meanwhile south of the border, the Labour leader was also facing rejection from one of his predecessors.
Ms Lamont clearly blames today publicly Ed Miliband and those around him and that's a very serious accusation that requires answers
Tony Blair reportedly said Miliband had failed to connect with voters and persuade them that Labour is ready to govern, according to The Telegraph.
The newspaper was handed a blow by blow account of his belittling comments, which were made in a private conversation between friends.
One of the people present said: “The Conservatives will be the next government because Labour has failed to make a good case for itself. That is what Tony thinks.”
Mr Blair’s office have spoken of a different story, claiming he believes Miliband could win, but stopped short of predicting he definitely would.
Ms Lamont's resignation has caused great anger in her party with Lord McConnell telling BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme he was "very, very angry".
He said: "She (Ms Lamont) clearly blames today publicly Ed Miliband and those around him and that's a very serious accusation that requires answers, and it requires answers not just from him but from those closest to him."
Anas Sarwar has stepped in as interim leader but speculation is mounting that Gordon Brown could return to frontline politics and throw his hat into the ring.
Speaking of Ms Lamont’s resignation, UK Labour leader Ed Miliband said Johann Lamont “deserves significant credit” for the successful No vote in the Scottish referendum campaign.
He added: "Having elected a new leader, I believe the party will show the same will and determination it did in the referendum campaign to help us to victory in the general election of 2015 and the Scottish elections of 2016."
Ms Lamont took over as the party's Scottish leader in the aftermath of the 2011 election,
where Labour suffered one of its worst defeats in Scotland.
She pledged to back the next leader of the Scottish party, "whoever they may be".
Ms Lamont is the second Scottish party leader to resign following the referendum after First Minister Alex Salmond decided to step down from his role.
