IT HAS taken nine years since devolution, but finally a Labour MSP has had the courage to spell out the parlous state of his Scottish party. Tom McCabe, the former finance minister, has written a blistering article for this newspaper in which he criticises his colleagues at Westminster as "resentful and contemptuous" of the Scottish parliament, adding that they simply have no clue as to why Scottish Labour lost the last Holyrood election. He also insists that Wendy Alexander's replacement must lead the Scottish party, not just the parliamentary group in Edinburgh; back more financial powers for Holyrood; and support abolition of the council tax. Only fundamental reform, he argued, can save Labour from slipping "to the fringes" of political life.

This is stirring stuff from a politician who has always seemed more radical than he was prepared to admit in public. His impassioned, almost apocalyptic, words also happen to be correct. Since 1999 this paper has argued that the control-freakery of Labour MPs at Westminster towards the Scottish parliament was damaging devolution as much as it was harming one political party. On issues from free personal care to the smoking ban, UK Labour have tried to sabotage or frustrate attempts by Scottish Labour to forge distinctive policies in areas devolved to Holyrood.

Labour's chickens came home to roost in May last year. The victorious SNP, unencumbered by a recalcitrant group of refuseniks in London, were free to develop policies on any issue of their choosing. Jack McConnell's party, by contrast, were always looking over their shoulders, fearful of the Westminster ministers and special advisers flown up to run the Labour campaign.

McCabe's advice to whoever succeeds Alexander is also sage. The leader must speak for the Scottish party as a whole, not just the group in Edinburgh. He or she must get on to the front foot of the constitutional debate by supporting extra financial powers for the parliament. The new leader should also challenge the UK government, of whatever hue, when the need arises.

McCabe is also correct when he says Labour have not fully grasped the meaning of their defeat in 2007. Time is running out for them to do so. Many might argue it is irrelevant whether they do or not; that Scotland is in the middle of an irreversible political realignment that will confine that once dominant party to the political wilderness.

That may or may not be the case. It is, however, in the country's interests that we have a coherent and effective opposition. It is in no-one's interests that Labour are prevented from engaging fully with the important debates that will influence Scotland's future, not least the decisions that have to be taken on the UK constitution.

It remains to be seen which, if any, of the three candidates for the Labour leadership at Holyrood is capable of pushing through the radical changes necessary if Scottish Labour are ever to challenge the SNP again. Cathy Jamieson, a decent and likeable MSP, as yet shows few signs of having the stomach for a fight with Westminster. Iain Gray, while intelligent and presentable, does not seem to accept such changes are desirable. Only Andy Kerr accepts reform is essential. However, it is not clear whether he has the support to turn his pledge into reality.

It is vital to the party that someone understands the scale of the problems facing it and develops a strategy for tackling them. Given Tom McCabe's article, it is a pity that four candidates are not going for the top job.