A proud socialist and trade unionist, elected Scottish Labour Party leader in 2017 on a radical programme of change. His ambition is to build a society where the economy serves the interests of the many, not the few. In the workplace he wants to end exploitation and promote democracy; in housing he seeks to challenge private profiteering landlordism through rent controls and build a new generation of council housing. He is committed to a programme to make public services, including buses and rail, work in the interests of the public and not private shareholders.