Scottish Labour Leader Calls for Prime Minister's Resignation
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has become the most senior Labour figure to publicly demand that Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer step down from his position. In a dramatic press conference held in Glasgow on Monday, Mr Sarwar declared that there have been "too many mistakes" in Downing Street and insisted that the leadership must change.
Personal Pain and Political Duty
Mr Sarwar revealed that his call for the Prime Minister's resignation caused him significant "personal hurt and pain", describing Sir Keir as a close friend and political ally. "There is probably no one in Scottish politics that's had a better relationship with Keir Starmer or a closer friendship with Keir Starmer than I have," he told journalists. "He is someone that I have campaigned alongside, worked alongside for the last five years in my role as leader."
Despite this personal connection, Mr Sarwar stated that his first loyalty must be to Scotland. He emphasised that the ongoing controversies surrounding the UK government were becoming a damaging distraction ahead of May's Scottish Parliament elections. "The distraction needs to end and the leadership in Downing Street has to change," he asserted.
Mounting Pressure Over Mandelson Appointment
The Scottish Labour leader's intervention comes as Sir Keir faces mounting criticism over his appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador. Lord Mandelson's friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has sparked widespread controversy and political backlash.
Mr Sarwar argued that this controversy, among other issues, was drowning out the government's achievements. "They promised they were going to be different, but too much has happened," he stated. "Have there been good things? Of course, there have been many of them, but no one knows them and no one can hear them because they're being drowned out."
Internal Labour Division and External Criticism
The call for resignation has exposed significant divisions within the Labour Party. Scottish Labour MP and UK government minister Ian Murray publicly disagreed with Mr Sarwar's position, posting on social media: "The last thing we need is more chaos when the public want a govt on their side tackling the cost of living. We inherited a badly failing economy & public services. That takes time to turn around & Keir deserves that time."
Opposition politicians were quick to criticise both leaders. SNP MP Kirsty Blackman accused Mr Sarwar of "desperation, hypocrisy and opportunism", questioning why he shouldn't also resign given his previous support for Lord Mandelson. Scottish Green co-leader Gillian Mackay described it as "a devastating day for Labour" and called on all Labour MPs to demand Sir Keir's resignation.
Looking Ahead to Scottish Elections
With polls suggesting Labour could come third behind both the SNP and Reform in May's Holyrood election, Mr Sarwar framed his intervention as necessary to protect Scottish interests. "We cannot allow the failures at the heart of Downing Street to mean the failures continue here in Scotland," he warned. "The election in May is not without consequence for the lives of Scots."
The Scottish Labour leader made clear he was not endorsing any potential successor to Sir Keir, stating that any leadership process should be determined by the UK Labour Party. He confirmed having spoken with the Prime Minister before his press conference, revealing only that they had "disagreed" about his remarks.
