Where's the Beef?

The contest to elect the next leader of the Scottish Labour party gets underway in earnest today - with the first round of official 'hustings' - which allow candidates to strut their stuff.

Only three people have thrown their hats into the ring for party leader - Tom Harris, Johann Lamont and Ken Macintosh - one Westminster MP and two Holyrood MSPs respectively.

All nice enough individuals - but you have to say this is definitely Labour's 'B' Team on display.

The big beast in the Labour jungle have all decided to sit this one out - which is really surprising - because the party faces its biggest test ever - with a referendum on Scottish independence looming in 2014.

The biggest Labour figure of them all - Gordon Brown - sits licking his wounds in Fife after losing the 2010 general election - and a particularly bruising experience as Prime Minister.

All the same in Labour's hour of greatest need you would expect him to step up to the plate - yet for some reason he seems to prefer the life of a backbench MP - and jetting off to Abu Dhabi on a regular basis.

Other experience Labour figures who might fit the bill - Alistair Darling, John Reid, Jim Murphy and Douglas Alexander - all seem equally disinclined to ride to the rescue.

Which must confuse Scottish Labour party members - who will soon decide on their champion - the person to pick up the gauntlet and cross swords with the SNP leader - and Scotland's First Minister - Alex Salmond.

'Where's the beef?' - the voters might be forgiven for asking - and they'd be right.