Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar is confronting intense questioning regarding the precise nature and timeline of his relationship with the controversial peer Peter Mandelson. The political figure, often described as an 'old friend' by Sarwar, is currently embroiled in a police investigation concerning the potential leaking of sensitive government information to the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Contradictory Timeline Emerges
This week, Mr Sarwar stated he had known Lord Mandelson only since approximately 2021. However, this assertion has been directly challenged by the Scottish National Party, which has highlighted a much longer and deeper historical connection between the two men through their mutual involvement with the Blairite thinktank, Progress.
Thinktank Ties Date Back Over a Decade
Records show that Anas Sarwar served as vice-chair of the Progress thinktank from 2011 to 2013. During this exact period, Peter Mandelson was an active and prominent figure within the organisation, authoring articles and delivering speeches to promote its agenda. Furthermore, Mandelson contributed to the 2011 Progress essay collection known as The Purple Book.
The financial and organisational links extend even further. Mandelson donated a total of twenty thousand pounds to Progress in 2018 and 2019. Subsequently, in 2021, he merged his own Policy Network thinktank with Progress to form the new entity Progressive Britain.
Public Appearance Fuels Scrutiny
The scrutiny intensified following a social media post by Mr Sarwar in April of last year. He shared a photograph of himself posing with Peter Mandelson outside the British Embassy in Washington DC, captioned: ‘It was great to catch up with my old friend and the UK’s (relatively!) new Ambassador to the US, Peter Mandelson.’
With Mandelson now under a police probe, Sarwar has sought to downplay the extent of their relationship, leading to accusations of dishonesty from political opponents.
SNP Demands Full Transparency
SNP MSP George Adam has issued a forceful demand for clarity. He stated: ‘Anas Sarwar has very real and serious questions to answer as to whether he told the truth about having only known his “old friend” Peter Mandelson since 2021.’
Adam continued: ‘We now know that as far back as 2011, Anas Sarwar was vice chair of a think tank that had very close links to Peter Mandelson. The public will find it inconceivable that such a senior member of a think tank that published Peter Mandelson regularly had never spoken to the man. He must come clean on his relationship with Mandelson.’
The SNP MSP emphasised the longstanding establishment links, noting: ‘Anas Sarwar has been at the heart of the Labour Party establishment for decades and no one was more part of that establishment than Mandelson. It is time for answers.’
Historical Political Context
The connection is also framed by their parallel political careers. Peter Mandelson served as the Labour Party's campaign director in 2010. That same year, Anas Sarwar was first elected as the Member of Parliament for Glasgow Central, a constituency previously held by his father, further embedding him within the party's inner circles.
Scottish Labour Hits Back
In a sharp retort, a spokesman for Scottish Labour redirected focus towards the SNP's own controversies. The spokesman said: ‘Given the SNP’s long record of trying to hide the actual misconduct of their own politicians - from Patrick Grady to Derek Mackay - they should focus on getting their own house in order before making unevidenced insinuations. Victims deserve better than this.’
The exchange underscores the highly charged partisan atmosphere at Holyrood, where personal associations and historical ties are being weaponised for political advantage amidst serious allegations.
