Whisper it – but there may just be signs of sentient thought, of intelligent self-criticism within Scottish Labour. Long way to go but the subterranean murmurings have begun.

Consider their current position. Part of the wider party which, in statute at least, created the Scottish Parliament. Now consigned to a frustrating subordinate role at Holyrood, competing with four other eager outfits to confront the governing SNP.

As one inside source said to me, Scottish Labour has simply become “smaller and angrier” after this year’s Holyrood elections. And size really matters. As another source said, every party in Scotland is redefining its strategy – but Labour is “fighting for survival”. Now, I do not believe that Scottish Labour’s demise is pending. For one thing, the SNP lost ground on May 7.

For another, Scottish politics is variegated, with every party contemplating the future. And so Scottish Labour will strive to expose the proclaimed failings of Team Swinney. But they know they need to do more. They know that yet another batch of statistics condemning the state of the NHS will not cut it. It didn’t work in the election campaign and it won’t work now.

Why Andy Burnham will struggle to make any quick change

By-election upsets for Swinney and Starmer. Only one will survive

I watched Scottish politics fracture. Here's what comes next. By Brian Taylor

This Labour contest is divisive and damaging.  But essential, says Brian Taylor

Strenuous oppositional politics – condemning the SNP for anything and everything – has failed. It leaves Labour looking like intransigent blockers, rather than proactive players. A change is needed. And,........

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