Andy Burnham is not a "messiah" and Scottish Labour needs "more control over its own destiny" if it is to recover from its latest election defeat, says former MSP Monica Lennon.

🗞️ My reflections from the doorsteps of Makerfield with Team @andyburnhamgm.bsky.social ahead of Thursday’s knife-edge by-election. 🗳️ Catch my full piece (plus those big World Cup dreams!) in today's Sunday Mail. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿⚽️ 🙌 Always the optimist. 😉 Fuelled by strong coffee today! ☕️

Finland's Social Democratic Party (SDP) is now supporting the criminalisation of #ecocide. A party conference resolution has committed it to pursuing #ecocidelaw at the national, regional and international levels. Get the full story: www.stopecocide.eart...#ecocide.#ecocidelaw#StopEcocide

Submissions wanted! 🎨 Is your child/ pupil aged 9-13? We're creating a short animated film to inform young people about #ecocidelaw and we’re looking for artwork and voice submissions to bring it to life! Get involved HERE: www.stopecocide.eart...#ecocidelaw #StopEcocide #Ecocide

"Adding #ecocide as a 5th crime at the International Criminal Court would be an important step towards accountability" Prof Philippe Sands & Catherine Savard discuss the rapidly growing movement to criminalise mass harm to nature in The BMJ Full story🔗 www.bmj.com/content/... #ecocide#StopEcocide

Roads closure at Farmeloan Rd/Dalmarnock Rd/Cambuslang Rd junction Rutherglen due to a fire.

[Posted at 10.06pm on Thursday, 7 May] Over 100 firefighters are currently tackling a fire on Baronald Street in Rutherglen. We were alerted at 6.19pm on Thursday, 7 May, to reports of a building fire. #ongoingincident #sfrs #ScottishFireAndRescue #Scotland

'You pick your days' - Monica Lennon undergoes surgery on election day

Raising my glass (coffee) to our amazing NHS staff from my hospital bed. Timing is everything! Today is the day to vote for real NHS recovery with @ScottishLabour. Not where I expected to be on May 7th but Rutherglen, Cambuslang and Blantyre, my heart is with you. Let’s do this. ♥️🗳️

Polling day is tomorrow 🌹 Today is about speaking to voters, turning people out and winning every vote we can. ✊ If you can spare an hour, join campaigners on the doors in your area 🚪👟 Find your nearest event: labourunions.org.uk/events

There's always one: Tim Kelly, Reform candidate for East Kilbride and 4th on the party's South Scotland list, has quit the party with days to go. He remains on ballot as a Reform candidate (and will already have received votes as such) but were he elected (not impossible in 4th) would be Independent

Rutherglen and Cambuslang is too close to call but the momentum is with me as a strong local champion. If you want to get me off the danger list, please join me on the campaign trail ahead of Thursday 7 May. 👇 #VoteLilacForLennon

#Mauritius has just become the latest country to criminalise #ecocide! Another step toward the global recognition of mass harm to nature as a serious crime. Get the story: www.stopecocide.eart...#Mauritius#ecocide!#StopEcocide

It's a week to go until polling day, and one of the new things in Scotland is improved accessibility and secrecy of the ballot for blind and partially sighted people, including audio descriptions of ballot papers. Lots of useful info about this from the RNIB here: www.rnib.org.uk/nations/scot...

It is worth stating that prior to M*nd*ls*n the UK had an extremely competent, well respected and highly effective Ambassador in Dame Karen Pierce. The smart move would have been to extend her tenure. She had served in the FCDO since the 80s, had been UK Ambassador to the UN & Afghanistan

Some personal news for the people of Rutherglen, Cambuslang and Blantyre. I’m taking a little bit of time away from the doorsteps to have some planned surgery. Thank you to everyone who has been kind and supportive. It means a lot. See you soon.♥️

@monicalennon.bsky.social had a brilliant piece on all of this which I encourage you all to read: www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politic...

Mandelson should never been appointed in the first place. He had been sacked by previous LABOUR PMs! It was a staggeringly bad judgment call. Anas Sarwar is right (and has been for a while) that Starmer must resign. Time MPs caught up to where the country is and found their backbone!

A wee sneak peek behind the scenes at #STUC26. Capturing our members important contributions for social media 📸

Strong support for our fantastic candidate, @monicalennon.bsky.social, in Cambuslang this morning. Only Scottish Labour can beat the SNP here. It’s time for a Scottish Government that focusses on the issues that matter to people, getting the basics right and renewing our public services.

Happy Tax Day, New York. We’re taxing the rich.

#Ecocide anywhere is a threat to humanity everywhere. That is why we urgently need to recognise it as a serious crime. #Ecocidelaw protects our shared planet for everyone. Learn more: www.stopecocide.earth/#Ecocide#Ecocidelaw #StopEcocide

Do you enjoy Ballot Box Scotland output? Find it useful in navigating the tricky waters of Scottish politics? Somehow have some spare cash lying around? Not already donating? Support always very gratefully received and with less than 4 weeks until the election, BBS is working my fingers to the bone!

Submissions wanted! 🎨 Is your child/ pupil aged 9-13? We're creating a short animated film to inform young people about #ecocidelaw and we’re looking for artwork and voice submissions to bring it to life! Get involved HERE: www.stopecocide.eart...#ecocidelaw #StopEcocide #Ecocide

Lovely sunny sessions in Cambuslang today and a warm response on the doors for our candidate, @monicalennon.bsky.social. 🌞 After two wasted decades, Rutherglen & Cambuslang needs a fresh start - Scottish Labour is best placed to beat the SNP and deliver the change our communities need.🌹

Why protect nature with criminal law (#EcocideLaw)? Criminal law: 👼 Shapes moral boundaries 💰 Redirects financial flows 🤵 Creates personal accountability More🔗 www.stopecocide.eart...#EcocideLaw)? #StopEcocide

I’ll stand up to leaders and ministers at Holyrood and Westminster when it’s the right thing to do. Come and join our grassroots campaign in Rutherglen, Cambuslang and Blantyre. Want to see me back in the Scottish Parliament fighting for progressive causes? I need your help. 👇

Four seasons in a few hours in Blantyre today but that won’t stop Scottish Labour from listening to people discussing their priorities. Our candidate, @monicalennon.bsky.social, is from here and understands the issues that matter to the community. Vote for a new direction on May 7th.🌹🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

🌞 Lovely sunny morning in High Blantyre and a warm reception on the doors for our fantastic candidate, @monicalennon.bsky.social. Only Scottish Labour can beat the SNP here and deliver the change Scotland needs. On 7th May, choose delivery over division and decline. 🌹❤️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Amazing to see individual MSPs 📸 supporting the STUC Women’s Committee to demand better ✊ #WomenDemandBetter @scottishtuc.bsky.social @katysclark.bsky.social

Massive thanks to @monicalennon.bsky.social for supporting the committee and welcoming all of us. We were urging MSPs to place women’s voices front and centre in the election.

At the parliament today with @lizmcg1578.bsky.social and the Young Women’s Movement to discuss our election manifestos with MSPs. Check out the STUC Women’s Committee manifesto asks here👇 www.stuc.org.uk/equalities-w...

In two days, the Scottish Parliament faces a defining vote on the Assisted Dying Bill. It has been robustly scrutinised and contains strong safeguards. In my Sunday Mail column today, I explain why I’m voting yes to dignity, autonomy and compassion for terminally-ill people in Scotland. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

On International Women’s Day I’m celebrating the incredible women I have the privilege of working alongside. Across our workplaces & our union, women continue to achieve amazing things & stand up for fairness & equality. Proud to work with so many inspiring women across UNISON Scotland 💜

Starting the day at UNISON Scotland’s Labour Link Forum hearing from Monica Lennon MSP about taking UNISON’s priorities into the heart of the Labour Party and tackling inequality within our public services 💜

NEW: @monicalennon.bsky.social is "profoundly disappointed" after a Holyrood committee blocked her ecocide legislation progressing before May's election. 90 out of the 129 MSPs backed the bill at the stage one vote. The SNP government was also supportive. www.scotsman.com/news/politic...

'So I can be remembered as I lived, not as I died' Terminally ill women Lisa Fleming, Tish McEwan and Lorna Weir, who are pro-assisted dying, demonstrate outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh on Wednesday. 𝘐𝘔𝘈𝘎𝘌: 𝘑𝘢𝘯𝘦 𝘉𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘰𝘸/𝘗𝘈 𝘞𝘪𝘳𝘦/𝘗𝘈 𝘐𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘴

Another weekend, another party conference. This time it was the Scottish Labour Party Conference, a single day conference which proved both busy and fruitful for #MEAction Scotland volunteers, Janet and Judith. #MyalgicEncephalomyelitis#MyalgicE#MyalgicE #HealthEquality

Are you on Substack? Head to our page to find deep dives & insights from the #ecocidelaw movement! 🔗 stopecocide.substack...#ecocidelaw #StopEcocide

The ‘R900 Positivity Crew’ from Calderwood! Out and about in our local community spreading love, kindness and positivity! Thank you to Specsavers, Rutherglen, for providing our hi-vis vests, too! 🩷 @rutherglen900.bsky.social

Brilliant reception in Blantyre! From her world-leading Period Poverty Act to her landmark Ecocide Bill, @monicalennon.bsky.social has a track record of delivery. Rutherglen & Cambuslang needs an MSP who gets things done and that’s Monica. Only Scottish Labour can beat the SNP here. 🌹

Excl: A Holyrood committee has been accused of ignoring the will of parliament after trying to kill @monicalennon.bsky.social's legislation to criminalise ecocide - despite being backed by MSPs to proceed. Opponents claim the Bill is being "rushed" through. www.scotsman.com/news/politic...

👋 Scottish Labour members. Final reminder that the regional list ballot closes at midday tomorrow. I’m standing on the Glasgow list - it includes the Rutherglen & Cambuslang constituency where I’m thrilled to be our candidate. If you haven’t voted yet, please check your emails and vote for me #1.

Reminder for Glasgow/Rutherglen @scottishlabour.bsky.social members: 1 week left to vote for your preferred regional candidates. Ballots close on Thursday 19 February. Please cast your 1st preference vote for me to place a strong and experienced representative at the top of our list. 🌹

Monica Lennon MSP, introducing the Ecocide (Scotland) Bill: “By advancing the Ecocide Bill, we are making it clear that eco-criminals will not be tolerated here ... It’s a powerful deterrent that puts polluters on notice to clean up their act. www.stopecocide.earth/bn-2025/scot...

Lots of support for our brilliant candidate, @monicalennon.bsky.social, in Rutherglen this morning. After almost 20 years of SNP failure, people here are ready for a fresh start - only Scottish Labour can beat them. It’s time to choose delivery over division and decline. 🌹🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿❤️

"Scotland values our nature above illegal profit" Scotland has voted to advance the ecocide prevention bill. We are delighted with this result and congratulate Monica Lennon with this historic step. Our ED Kate Mackintosh was part of her advisory team. bit.ly/45U7jRG

"The bill would make Scotland the first part of the UK to create the offence of #ecocide" BBC News reports on the progress of @monicalennon.bsky.social's proposed #ecocidelaw in the Scottish parliament yesterday. Story: bbc.co.uk/news/article... #StopEcocide

The Scottish Parliament has voted to move @monicalennon.bsky.social's Ecocide (Scotland) Bill to Stage 2. Our Scottish Labour and Co-operative Party representatives in Holyrood are making a difference for the future of our planet, and the future of Scotland, today

Scotland moves one step closer to making history as MSPs vote to advance the #Ecocide (Scotland) Bill! The bill would make Scotland the first UK nation to introduce #EcocideLaw. Learn more: www.stopecocide.earth/bn-2025/scot... #StopEcocide