Former Scottish Labour MSP Monica Lennon has said she will not rule out standing for the party leadership after Anas Sarwar resigns. Lennon, who lost her Holyrood seat in May, is next in line on the Glasgow List and will succeed Sarwar as an MSP when he leaves for the House of Lords.
Unfinished business at Holyrood
Speaking to the Record's Planet Holyrood podcast, Lennon said she would "absolutely" welcome a return to Holyrood, citing "unfinished business" at the Parliament. "It would be a huge honour and privilege to go back to Parliament and serve as a member for Glasgow," she said.
On a potential leadership contest, Lennon stated: "I am not going to rule myself out of anything right now. I want to respect other colleagues and hear what they have to say." She confirmed that party members had contacted her about standing, adding: "Yes - this has all been happening quite quickly. Lots of people have been getting in touch, including today, which is very kind and I am very flattered."
Blame for election defeat
Lennon blamed former Prime Minister Keir Starmer's mistakes for Scottish Labour's heavy defeat to the SNP in May. She described Starmer as the "main barrier" to success. "As we have seen, when things were going well for Keir Starmer at the election, there was a benefit for Scottish Labour. When things are going badly, it all turns to disaster literally overnight," she said.
She added: "The next phase for Scottish Labour needs to be getting back to reasserting who Scottish Labour is for, why we even exist and who it is we are trying to help." Lennon also said the party's Holyrood manifesto, heavily influenced by MSP Michael Marra, needed a "bolder articulation of who we stand up for".
Sarwar's departure sparks backlash
Sarwar is quitting as leader to take up a ministerial role in Prime Minister Andy Burnham's Government. He will be made a peer, requiring him to resign as a Glasgow MSP. His departure triggers a succession battle, with Michael Marra, Paul Sweeney, and Lennon tipped as contenders.
Senior party figures criticised Sarwar's move to the Lords. A Labour source said: "He has finally found a way into Government that didn't require Scottish voters." A Scottish Labour MP called the decision "selfish". Another insider said: "Two election defeats. Zero political nous. And now a seat in the Lords and a ministerial job. Anas Sarwar's political career is a masterclass in failing upwards."
Another source stated: "Anas leaves as leader after delivering Scottish Labour's worst ever result for the second election in a row. No one thinks he ought to shoulder sole blame for the result, but after claiming he was sticking around to rebuild the party only for him to walk away at the first chance of a cushy ministerial gig and a seat in the Lords, this will come as a kick in the teeth to hard working members."
Hypocrisy accusations
Critics pointed to Sarwar's previous criticism of the Lords. In 2022, he said: "The House of Lords, in its current form, as an institution, has no place in 21st century politics. It is unacceptable, and has been for far too long, to have unelected representatives wielding such power. The House of Lords must be abolished and replaced with an institution which better reflects the makeup and the identity of the United Kingdom." In May, when asked if he would take a seat in the Lords, Sarwar replied: "No - I'm focused on being First Minister of this great country."
SNP MSP Laura Mitchell said: "Civil war is raging amongst Labour MPs from Scotland and it's hard not to blame them - this whole thing reeks of a long planned scheme. Sarwar and Alexander led Scottish Labour to an historic defeat yet end up with cushy government jobs - was Sarwar's call for Starmer to resign a quid pro quo with Burnham? Andy Burnham should now come clean with the public and tell us when he first met with Sarwar and Alexander to plan their careers post-Starmer."
