Sarwar Defies Polls, Vows Labour Will Win Scottish Election in 10 Weeks
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has boldly declared his intention to secure victory in the upcoming Holyrood election, scheduled for May 7, despite acknowledging his perennial status as the political underdog. In a spirited interview on BBC Radio Scotland's Breakfast programme, Sarwar dismissed suggestions that Labour's recent defeat in the Gorton and Denton Westminster by-election should be used to predict the outcome in Scotland.
Dismissing UK Setback as Irrelevant to Scottish Contest
The Scottish Labour conference, held in Paisley, unfolded just hours after the party suffered a significant blow in England, where the Greens clinched their first-ever Westminster by-election victory in Gorton and Denton. Sarwar described this result as deeply disappointing, attributing it to widespread public anger and a volatile electorate. However, he firmly cautioned against extrapolating this loss to forecast Scotland's political future.
"In Scotland, the establishment for the last 20 years has been the SNP," Sarwar asserted. "I think that will be a very different framing for an election in 10 weeks' time here in Scotland." He emphasised that the dynamics in Scotland are distinct, with the SNP holding long-term incumbency, unlike the relatively new UK Labour government at Westminster.
Pointing to Past Successes and Future Ambitions
While conceding he has always been the underdog, Sarwar highlighted Labour's recent electoral achievements in Scotland to bolster his confidence. These include:
- Winning the Rutherglen and Hamilton West Westminster by-election from the SNP in 2023.
- Securing the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse Holyrood by-election from John Swinney's party in 2025.
- Achieving wins across Scotland in the 2024 general election.
Sarwar passionately declared: "They say we can't win this Scottish election, and I am telling you right now in these 10 weeks I intend to win this election and build a different future for Scotland." He positioned himself as the sole candidate capable of delivering a new government and first minister, arguing that neither Reform nor the SNP deserve victory.
Urging Voters to Focus on Scottish Issues
The Scottish Labour leader made a direct appeal to voters, urging them to base their decision on domestic matters rather than Westminster politics. He outlined key issues where he believes the SNP has failed:
- Fixing the NHS to make it fit for the future.
- Guaranteeing opportunities for young people.
- Revitalising towns, cities, and villages across Scotland.
"We have huge challenges here in Scotland," Sarwar stated. "I don't think our NHS, our schools, our towns, cities and villages should pay the price of another decade of SNP Government because people have a frustration with a Government somewhere else that has only been in around two years."
Positioning Labour as the Only Alternative to SNP
Sarwar framed the election as a binary choice, insisting that only Scottish Labour can defeat the SNP in constituencies nationwide. "If people want to get rid of this SNP Government, if they want to end the SNP establishment... the only way of doing that is backing the party best placed to beat the SNP," he argued.
He concluded with a rallying cry: "Whether you do it with anger, whether you do it with frustration, whether you do it with enthusiasm, whether you hold your nose and do it, if you want to get rid of the SNP, the only party and the only person that can do it is me." Sarwar's focus for the next 10 weeks remains squarely on changing the first minister and electing a new government in Scotland, defying current polls that suggest Labour could place third behind the SNP and Reform.
