Sarwar Defends Starmer Resignation Demand Despite Party Backlash
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has revealed he was not surprised that other senior figures within the party failed to support his public calls for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to resign from office. In a candid interview, Mr Sarwar admitted the decision to demand his colleague's resignation caused him significant personal distress, but he maintains it was the correct course of action for Scotland.
Personal Pain and Political Principle
"There is no point pretending there wasn't personal pain, but I did what I did and I stand by it," Mr Sarwar stated, reflecting on his February intervention. He emphasized that his primary motivation was Scotland's interests rather than Westminster politics, despite his close personal friendship with Sir Keir. The Scottish Labour leader described the Prime Minister as a "man of integrity" whom he still likes and respects, making the public call for resignation particularly hurtful on a personal level.
Mr Sarwar explained that he anticipated the Prime Minister's anger and hurt following his demand, acknowledging that the situation would be "more painful or more hurtful for him" given their relationship. However, he insisted that Scottish voters "deserve to know what my standards are, what I'm willing to do, and what I would do differently."
Political Context and Calculations
The resignation call came amid declining fortunes for Scottish Labour following the party's landslide victory in the 2024 UK general election. Recent polling has placed Scottish Labour in third position behind Reform UK in some surveys, creating pressure on Mr Sarwar to demonstrate independence from Westminster. He told interviewer Grado, the wrestler and actor from Two Doors Down, that too many people misinterpreted his actions as being calculated to influence Westminster politics.
"To be honest with you, my idea behind it, my thought process behind it wasn't 'What does it mean for Westminster?' It was, 'What does it mean for Scotland?'" Mr Sarwar clarified. "Genuinely, I was prioritising Scotland, demonstrating that was my loyalty. That was my priority, rather than what is a really close friendship I have with Keir Starmer."
Limited Support and Ongoing Controversy
Despite his conviction, Mr Sarwar's call failed to gain traction among other Labour figures, putting him at odds with the party's Scottish MPs and creating isolation within the broader Labour movement. He revealed that apart from his core team, he didn't inform others beforehand about his planned intervention. "Obviously, I had lots of conversations with lots of people but I wasn't surprised about what happened afterwards," he noted regarding the lack of support.
The controversy surrounding Sir Keir's leadership has intensified recently following revelations that officials cleared Lord Peter Mandelson's appointment as ambassador to the United States despite the peer failing security vetting procedures. This development has prompted renewed calls for the Prime Minister's resignation from multiple opposition parties including the SNP, Conservatives, Reform UK, and Liberal Democrats.
Mr Sarwar initially called for Sir Keir to quit in February, citing "too many mistakes" from Number 10 Downing Street. While he expresses no regret about his stance, the political fallout continues to highlight tensions between Scottish Labour priorities and the UK party leadership as Scotland approaches Holyrood elections in May.
