Former Labour MSP Paul O'Kane has said he feels “anger and disappointment” with Anas Sarwar over the manner of his abrupt resignation. O’Kane said the announcement had been a “surprise” as Sarwar had been expected to stay for the post-mortem into Labour’s Holyrood election drubbing. He also backed MSP Michael Marra for the party leadership.
Sarwar's resignation and peerage
As exclusively revealed by the Record on Tuesday, Sarwar has quit as leader to become a peer and a minister in Andy Burnham’s Labour Government. This was in spite of a pledge not to join the unelected House of Lords. Sarwar had been expected to stay on for a few months while his party carried out a review into their fifth defeat in a row to the SNP. Party sources have accused him of bailing and walking away from the electoral loss.
O'Kane's reaction
Speaking to the BBC Scotland Breakfast show, O’Kane – who lost out in May's election – said: “I think the announcement came as a surprise to people both within the party and more widely. But Anas has clearly decided that this is the way in which he wants to make his next contribution to public life. And I'm sure that's something that he had been weighing up and discussing with the incoming government.”
In spicier comments, he said: “What he had said himself was that he wanted to lead the Scottish Labour Party through a period which we're in right now, which is a period of pain and a period of reflection around what has happened and what happened in the election. He obviously will not now be the person to do that. So I do understand the anger and the disappointment and indeed I feel some of that myself. I think what's vital in this is that we don't lose sight of that important period of reflection. Because I think we need to take that time to understand what happened in May and to decide what our future direction will be, and indeed who will lead us through that.”
Leadership contest ahead
Party figures blame the performance of the UK Government for the Holyrood defeat and want a rethink of the relationship with the wider party. An internal pressure group believes Scottish Labour should become an independent party. O’Kane said: “I think there is now a fundamental question about where we go in terms of the leadership of Scottish Labour. Clearly, the page is closing in terms of Anas’ leadership of the party.”
Sarwar’s departure creates a vacancy and may lead to a leadership contest. Marra, the party’s finance spokesperson, is certain to stand, while fellow MSP Paul Sweeney is undecided. Former MSP Monica Lennon, who will get back to Holyrood when Sarwar quits the Parliament, has not ruled out a bid but has not made a final decision.
O’Kane, who represented West Scotland between 2021 and 2026, said: “Michael Mara and I have worked closely together. I view him as serious and credible and I think he can move our party forward.”
