Scottish First Minister John Swinney has welcomed Sir Keir Starmer's resignation as Prime Minister, calling it the 'right decision' and insisting it was 'past time' for the Labour leader to 'face reality'. However, Swinney argued that a mere change of personnel—with Andy Burnham emerging as the likely successor—is insufficient, and what Scotland truly needs is a 'fundamental change of direction', including independence from the UK.
Starmer's emotional exit
Sir Keir Starmer made an emotional resignation statement outside 10 Downing Street on Monday, after spending the weekend at Chequers considering his future with his family. He acknowledged that his party had questioned whether he was 'best placed' to lead Labour into the next general election, saying he had 'heard the answer of my parliamentary party to that question' and would 'accept that answer with good grace'. He will step down once his successor is in place, before the end of Westminster's summer recess.
Swinney's response: 'Right decision, but more needed'
Speaking after Starmer's statement, Swinney said: 'On a personal level, I wish the Prime Minister and his family well. Leadership is tough, and can make extraordinary demands both on the leader and their families.' He added: 'Sir Keir Starmer has made the right decision. It was past time for him to face reality and the fact he now has allows some hope that things can change.'
But Swinney stressed that 'rather than simply a change of personnel, what is needed is a fundamental change of direction'. He criticised Labour's record: 'Labour's time in power has been characterised by broken promises, poor judgment and, ultimately, failure. Instead of supporting those who are struggling to pay their bills and put food on the table, the Labour Party has continued the instability and infighting for which Westminster is known, and there seems to be no end in sight.'
Criticism of Westminster system
Swinney noted that 'people will rightly be frustrated and embarrassed that the UK's sixth Prime Minister in 10 years once again failed to get to grips with the challenges facing this country', adding there was 'no reason to believe the seventh will be any different'. He argued that 'Scotland deserves better' and that change is 'just not possible within the Westminster system'. He concluded: 'A fresh start is possible, but only with independence. That is the future I will continue to fight for as I lead a government that is delivering on Scotland's priorities – tackling the cost of living, growing our economy and building a fairer nation.'
Scottish Green and Tory reactions
Scottish Green co-leader Gillian Mackay also questioned whether Andy Burnham would do a better job. She said: 'Keir Starmer promised integrity and change but has delivered disgrace and failure. His most immoral decision was to arm, support and enable Israel's genocide of the Palestinian people.' She called this 'one of the worst decisions of any Prime Minister this century'. She added that Starmer 'was a human rights lawyer, but his Government has attacked the rights of pensioners and disabled people and inflicted cruel anti-migrant laws, while abandoning much-needed efforts to tackle the climate emergency'. She concluded: 'There is no reason to think Andy Burnham will be any better. This isn't a man that will deliver change for Scotland. Our country deserves better than being trapped in Labour's feuds while we face the real prospect of Nigel Farage in Downing Street.'
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay said: 'Having jumped before he was pushed by Labour MPs, Sir Keir Starmer will be remembered as the Prime Minister of U-turns and broken promises. But putting Andy Burnham into Downing Street changes nothing because our country will still be stuck with a left-wing Labour Government that will only ever increase people's taxes while failing to tackle the out-of-control benefits bill. And they're too arrogant to end their idiotic war on Scotland's oil and gas sector, despite our party's seismic victory in Aberdeen South. Fundamentally, this failing Labour Government will take the same damaging approach seen by the SNP administration, which spells double disaster for Scotland.'
