Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has declared that voters have the chance to "make history" on election day by removing the Scottish National Party (SNP) from power after nearly two decades. Speaking at an eve-of-poll rally in Glasgow, Sarwar rallied party members with a passionate call to action, insisting that Labour could "pull off a surprise" and outperform polling expectations.
Sarwar's Rallying Cry
Sarwar told the crowd that Labour is fighting to win the election and form the next government, despite surveys suggesting the party could face a historic defeat and finish third behind Reform UK and the SNP. Addressing questions about his leadership, Sarwar affirmed his commitment: "I look forward to leading Scottish Labour and leading the next Scottish Government into supporting this great country for the next five years."
Introduced by a visibly emotional deputy Jackie Baillie and Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander, Sarwar received a standing ovation. Baillie delivered a clear message: "Reject Reform, beat the SNP, change Scotland."
Promises of Change
Sarwar urged voters to give him five years to improve Scotland's hospitals, schools, and streets after what he described as nearly 20 years of "managed decline" under the SNP. He said: "You have given John Swinney and the SNP 20 years – give me five. In that time, we will demonstrate that we can fix the NHS, we can make life more affordable and we can build a better future for Scotland."
He emphasized that the only way to achieve this is by voting Scottish Labour: "That means rejecting Reform, beating the SNP, changing Scotland, and the only way to do that is by voting Scottish Labour."
Knife-Edge Constituencies
Sarwar predicted that the election outcome will hinge on 38 "knife-edge" constituencies where the choice is a straight fight between Scottish Labour and the SNP. He warned that Reform UK are the "midwives of an SNP government," claiming that "every single vote" for Reform is "a vote to help the SNP and to keep the SNP in power."
"If you want to get rid of the SNP and you want to change this country and reject Reform in the process, you need to vote Scottish Labour," he added.
Reactions from Other Parties
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton acknowledged that voters feel "let down" by other parties. "We think Scotland deserves better than this," he said. "But it needs to be change with fairness at its heart. In many constituencies we are on the verge of winning against the SNP but, wherever you are, every vote for the Scottish Liberal Democrats on the second peach ballot will deliver change with fairness at its heart."
Scottish Conservative deputy leader Rachael Hamilton criticized Labour, stating: "Scottish Labour are paying the price for the litany of broken promises and U-turns by the useless Keir Starmer. Anas Sarwar campaigned relentlessly to inflict this dud Prime Minister on the country and is shamelessly trying to disown him now."
She argued that Labour cannot offer change from the SNP when they support the same "failed agenda" of high taxes, out-of-control benefits spending, and destroying the oil and gas sector. "The Scottish Conservatives offer a credible low-tax, pro-growth alternative to the left-wing Holyrood consensus and we’re the only party that can be trusted to stand up for Scotland’s place in the Union. That’s why pro-UK voters must back us on their peach ballot to stop an SNP majority and John Swinney’s push for another divisive independence referendum," Hamilton concluded.
