Monica Lennon has branded Scottish Labour “quite nasty” and accused it of having “a problem when it comes to trans people”.

The MSP, a vocal supporter of trans rights, failed to secure enough nominations to join Michael Marra and Joe Fagan in the contest to replace Anas Sarwar as party leader.

Both Marra and Fagan have expressed scepticism about recent attempts by the Scottish Parliament to make it easier for an individual to change their legally recognised sex.

Lennon told BBC Scotland News that Scottish Labour – which finished joint second with Reform in the Holyrood election – should be showing compassion and respect to trans people.

She added: “I don’t know if we have any transgender members left in Scottish Labour. They’re certainly not voting for us.”

Sarwar triggered the contest last month after he announced his intention to stand down as both Scottish leader and MSP to join Andy Burnham’s government.

His decision came after Labour’s worst Holyrood election performance.

Party members and affiliated supporters will vote for his replacement between 28 August and 17 September.

In a statement Lennon called on the two candidates on the ballot to “do better” and said “punching down on trans people and other minorities is not acceptable”.

Lennon, who supported attempted gender reform in Scotland, also hit out against anonymous briefings during the contest.

She told BBC Scotland News: “If you’re going to put yourself forward to be a man who is safeguarding women’s rights then think about how you treat the LGBTQ community as well in its entirety.

“I won’t be silenced. I’m not going anywhere. Frankly too many people have been pushed out of the Labour Party already in Scotland. That’s why we only have 11,000 members.”

Lennon wished both candidates well, called for “a battle of ideas” and warned the party against moving to the right.

Fagan said the leadership campaign was about “more than understanding what went wrong” for the party.

“It is about what Labour does next,” he said.

“It is about respecting work, backing our communities and giving working people real power over the future, not asking them simply to live with decisions made elsewhere.”

He said he did not recognise the description of the party as “nasty” and when asked about Lennon’s criticisms in relation to trans rights, he said: “We need to go forward with compassion, we don’t punch down on anyone.”

Marra said he was “humbled” to be on the ballot and looked forward to a “good spirited and comradely contest”.

He added: “The next leader of Scottish Labour has a huge task: to unite our party, rediscover our soul and reconnect with Scotland.

“I am the candidate who can do that.”

The North East Scotland MSP offered his commiserations to Lennon, who he described as “one of the most formidable and effective campaigners the Labour movement has”.

Sarwar, who had led the party since 2021, declined to endorse a candidate during an Edinburgh Fringe event earlier this month.

But he warned the contenders and their teams against infighting.

Since his exit Dame Jackie Baillie has been acting leader of Scottish Labour.

As of last year, new rules prevent politicians from sitting at both Westminster and Holyrood at the same time.

There will not be a by-election for Sarwar’s Holyrood seat as he was elected via the regional list.

Monica Lennon, who had been in the Scottish Parliament for a decade but was not re-elected in May, is the next name on the Glasgow list.

The winner of the leadership contest will be announced on 19 September.