Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader who once called for Sir Keir Starmer to resign and said he would never take a seat in the House of Lords, is set to do exactly that — stepping down to become a minister in Andy Burnham's government.
Sarwar will leave the Scottish Parliament, relinquish his leadership role and be appointed to the Lords, according to sources. He is expected to become a business minister, just months after promising to serve a full five-year Holyrood term and vowing to stop the country falling into the hands of Nigel Farage.
“Anas Sarwar set to become minister in Burnham's government, leaving Scottish Parliament for Lords.”
His reversal comes after Burnham became Labour leader at an event in London last Friday that Sarwar attended. The new prime minister hailed his “bold Labour vision” on Monday, but behind the scenes, Scottish Labour parliamentarians were blindsided, according to BBC Scotland Westminster correspondent Paris Gourtsoyannis. One MSP called the move a shock.
The decision creates a leadership vacancy in Scotland. Deputy leader and MSP Jackie Baillie is expected to step up on an interim basis ahead of a contest. There will be no by-election for Sarwar’s Holyrood seat because he was elected via the regional list. The next name on the Glasgow list is Monica Lennon, who lost her seat in May but is now among the favourites to replace Sarwar.
Lennon, who was in the Scottish Parliament for a decade, told the Evening Standard she is “not going to rule out” a leadership bid. She is not yet an MSP, but her return to Holyrood would require a vacancy — which Sarwar’s departure will create.
The move marks a dramatic turn for a politician who, as recently as May, told The Herald: “No. I’m focused on being first minister of this great country.” He added: “My only commitment, my only focus, is serving my constituents in Glasgow.” After Sir Keir’s resignation in June, he insisted: “That is my intention. I’m hungry for the fight ahead.”
Sarwar’s change of heart follows Scottish Labour’s poor performance in May, when the party won just 17 of 129 seats at Holyrood. New rules now prevent politicians from sitting in both Westminster and Holyrood, forcing his exit from the Scottish Parliament.
Burnham still has a raft of ministerial appointments to make, having named his cabinet on Monday night. Sarwar’s role is set to be announced in the coming days, leaving Scottish Labour to plot its next chapter without its leader.