Hello all,

Today, we are pleased to announce that the merger agreement between the Scottish National Party and the Labour Party has been ratified by both parties, and as a result the Scottish National Party has merged into the Labour Party. We are proud and excited to be able to advance the needs and interests of the people of Scotland as a more unified and effective force, and the Labour Party is looking forward to renewing our efforts in Holyrood to deliver real, progressive change.

Politics in Holyrood has been forever changed this term, and the days of the Classical Liberal / Scottish National Party rivalry are gone. I understand how many throughout Scotland might feel disillusioned with the state of politics as it stands, and how who one voted for has become another. I recognise this, I have felt this before, however I wish to directly address all those who feel nothing but distrust in our system, and who may be lost in our new reality. I wish to gain the trust of the people of Scotland, something I know can never be merely expected, to be able to prove that both myself and my energetic team that we will be able to deliver for this people of this nation. I stand before the nation as the first Scottish Labour opposition leader with a message of hope, that we do not have to accept a hard-line stance to nationalism or unionism, that we can end this divide within our country, that we can come together and focus on the issues that matter. I hope that over the next few months, I can prove myself to all those who live within our wonderful nation that the Scottish Labour team can truly represent them and serve in their interests.

Looking forward, I wish to welcome /u/wiredcookie1 to the Scottish Labour Leadership team alongside /u/pavanpur04. Our new spokesperson lineup will now be decided, and shall be announced within a week's time.

I wish to thank everyone who has been part of this process, and I look forward to working alongside the members of my team, new and old, to fight for a better Scotland. We must build a future for all of us, so we better continue the fight.

Thank You.