Former Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has reaffirmed his long-standing call to abolish the House of Lords, despite having accepted a peerage weeks ago to join the new UK government. Sarwar, who stepped down as Scottish Labour leader after the Holyrood election, is now Minister of State for Trade in Prime Minister Andy Burnham's government.
Abolition stance unchanged
In 2022, Sarwar had called for the Lords to be replaced with a democratically elected "senate of the nations and regions." Appearing at the Edinburgh Fringe on Sunday, he reiterated that position in an interview with BBC Scotland.
Asked if he had misled people, given his earlier claim that he would not accept a peerage ahead of the May Holyrood elections, Sarwar said: "My aspiration and ambition was to be First Minister of Scotland. Clearly I failed in that aspiration and now I want to make sure that this Labour government is a success and we deliver for people in every part of our great country."
He added: "I have always said that there should be a senate of the nations and regions. I still have that view."
Hardest job in British politics
Speaking on stage with comedian and podcaster Matt Forde at the Edinburgh Fringe, Sarwar described being Scottish Labour leader as the "hardest job in British politics." He said he was still "heartbroken" at the election result.
"So often, I heard people say the hardest job in British politics is being the leader of the UK Labour party in opposition. Honestly, hand on heart, because I did it for five years, the hardest job in British politics is being leader of Scottish Labour. For so many reasons," he said.
"That's why I'm not going to be one of those former Scottish Labour leaders that's publicly giving advice all the time. The best thing you can do to support someone in that job is be available to them to give advice, be supportive of them, and if they ask you to help, you help them. But don't be a public commentator for them."
Leadership race underway
Sarwar declined to endorse any candidate in the contest to replace him, but praised the three MSPs who have put themselves forward as "able, talented individuals." He urged all Labour MSPs to work together, saying: "Your relationship with each other, your ability to work with each other, and to look out for each other, is going to be crucial."
Labour has not won a Scottish Parliament election since 2003 and has lost seats at every election since the parliament was reinstated in 1999. Following Sarwar's resignation, Michael Marra, Joe Fagan, and Monica Lennon are vying to become the next Scottish Labour leader.
