Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has insisted his party should still be considered the main opposition at Holyrood, despite tying with Reform UK on 17 MSPs. Speaking to journalists at the Scottish Parliament, Mr Sarwar also said he did not “turn the screws” on anyone to oppose Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, as a growing number of Scottish Labour MPs call for his departure.
Sarwar Stands by His Position
Mr Sarwar, who called for a change in leadership at Number 10 in February, said he stood by his earlier position on Sir Keir. “I didn’t turn the screws on any of my colleagues back in February and I’m not doing that now,” he stated. “Every Scottish Labour MP is, of course, like me and our MSPs and our wider party, hurting about the result here last week. My job is to hold my party together and make sure we’re an effective opposition.”
Claim to Main Opposition Status
When asked whether Labour remains the main opposition in the Scottish Parliament—traditionally determined by being the largest opposition group and first to question the First Minister at weekly sessions—Mr Sarwar argued that Labour’s vote share should be decisive. “We are the main opposition in this parliament. Yes, we won the same number of seats as Reform, but we got more votes than Reform,” he said. He added that other political parties, which have expressed a desire to limit Reform’s influence, now face a choice: “Are they going to back Reform to be the main opposition in this parliament or is it going to be the Scottish Labour party?”
The Scottish Labour leader’s comments come amid internal party tensions following the recent election results, with some MPs openly challenging Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership. Mr Sarwar’s call for unity and his defence of Labour’s opposition role underscore the challenges facing the party as it navigates a fragmented political landscape in Scotland.
