Scottish Labour’s rivals in Holyrood have slammed Anas Sarwar’s shock decision to resign as leader to sit in Andy Burnham’s new government, calling him a “chancer” and accusing him of lying to voters.
The prime minister has made Sarwar – who was the first senior Labour figure to call for Keir Starmer to resign – a peer and given him a ministerial post at the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, No 10 announced on Wednesday.
The Scottish Green party co-leader Gillian Mackay said: “Anas Sarwar is a chancer. He has gone from promising to scrap the House of Lords to taking a seat in it. He has spent years attacking the very institution he is now preparing to join. The hypocrisy is breathtaking.”
The SNP called for Sarwar to donate his new “bumper salary” to charity, accusing him of lying to the electorate over his intentions after previously saying he would never enter the Lords, calling it “unacceptable” in 2022.
The SNP MSP George Adam said: “The Labour party and Anas Sarwar repeatedly denied and lied to the people of Scotland about Anas Sarwar’s intentions – the fact he will now be prancing about in ermine robes won’t be forgotten.”
However, despite the move happening less than three months since his election campaign – shortly before Scottish Labour suffered its worst results in Holyrood history – those who know Sarwar do not think it was planned.
Figures from within his own party were left reeling, with “surprised” being the word on the lips of a number of Scottish Labour politicians and staff on Wednesday.
One Scottish Labour worker said: “If he was going to resign, it would have been clearer to have stated that in May and given everyone the chance to have a proper assessment and restructure things however needed. Doing it this way means everyone is thrown into the lurch.”
As is the formality in some constituencies, Sarwar’s seat as a member of the Scottish parliament will be relinquished and handed on to the next on the list, Monica Lennon. Lennon is also seen as a credible contender for the party leadership, having been a popular MSP in the past.
Michael Marra, the MSP for North East Scotland, is a name also being put forward as a potential leadership candidate from outside the power centres of Edinburgh or Glasgow.
It will not be a wide field, as there are only 17 Labour MSPs to choose from. It is possible for an MP or even a Lord to take on the Scottish Labour leadership – meaning, in fact, Sarwar does not have to technically resign as leader – but it is most common for this role to be held by an MSP because of duties in the Scottish parliament.
A source close to Sarwar said: “The next [Scottish] Labour leader will need to [provide] balance between the offer to Scotland that is a uniquely Scottish offer, while being part of a UK-wide party. That has been a constant conflict, a constant battle.”
Another said the next leader would “have to do some educating of Andy Burnham … He’s the king of the north but he is prime minister of the United Kingdom.”
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Criticism has been made from Scotland that Burnham’s devolution offer to the north of England and the wider country outside London and the south-east falls short when it comes to the devolved nations.
Scottish politicians from across the spectrum have complained that Burnham lacks knowledge of, or interest in, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Sarwar’s appointment could help bridge that gap, a source said.
While many people were shocked by Sarwar’s perceived willingness to leave Scotland behind, given the choice between being in power in Westminster and in opposition in Holyrood, it would be common sense for Sarwar to choose Westminster, a source close to Sarwar in the Labour party said.
“I’m maybe less surprised than people out in the wider Labour world, because he’s someone who’s very ambitious. Politically, he’s someone who wants to effect change. He’s obviously not in power, he faced the prospect of hanging around for another five years until the next Holyrood election. I just think we would have been bored had he stayed on, and he’s not someone that would like to sit around and be bored.”
Sarwar said: “I am delighted and honoured to have been asked by the prime minister to serve every part of the United Kingdom as the minister of state for trade.
“Throughout my life, I have only ever been motivated by public service. The opportunity to serve our country is all I have ever asked. That’s why this is an opportunity I humbly accept.
“Looking back over the last five years, I am hugely proud of the work we have done since I became Scottish Labour leader.”
The acting leader of the Scottish Labour party, Jackie Baillie, said: “I want to thank Anas Sarwar for his leadership and friendship. He led the Scottish Labour party with integrity and a vision to build a fairer and more equal Scotland.”
