Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar believes a Labour UK government under Keir Starmer is a necessary stepping stone towards his ambition of becoming First Minister of Scotland. Despite recent unpopular policy decisions by Starmer, Sarwar maintains a close relationship with the UK Labour leader and views his success as crucial to his own political aspirations.
ANAS Sarwar has insisted he can still become First Minister at the next Holyrood election despite his party’s turbulent first six months in Westminster. The Scottish Labour leader said that having a Labour UK government was merely a “stepping stone” to him getting to Bute House and dismissed Keir Starmer ’s unpopular policy decisions as “people’s individual frustrations”.
Speaking exclusively to the Sunday Mail Sarwar said he was proud of his party’s work in removing the Tories from government and said: “The worst day of a Labour Government is still better than the best day of a Tory government for Scotland.” Since becoming Scottish Labour leader in 2021 Sarwar has aligned himself closely with Keir Starmer and UK Labour with the pair photo opportunities and constituency visits regularly in the lead up to the General Election in July. But political analysts said this close relationship could backfire for Sarwar in 2026 if Starmer doesn’t perform in Westminster. Starmer has made a series of gloomy announcements that have proven deeply unpopular with the electorate including the rejection of compensation for WASPI women, removal of the winter fuel allowance for pensioners and a refusal to reverse the two-child benefit cap which campaigners say is keeping thousands of children in poverty. Asked if he regretted being so closely tied with Starmer and the UK Labour party Sarwar said: “Keir and I have a really strong personal relationship and a really strong political relationship. “At the same time I’ll be really honest - I viewed Keir Starmer and the election of a Labour government as a stepping stone to what I’m trying to achieve rather than the whole of what I’m trying to achieve. “Having a Labour government was a stepping stone to having a Labour government in Scotland. I will always be proud of the role that I played, that Scottish Labour played and the Scottish people played in getting rid of a Tory government that’s damaged our country over the last 14 year
Scottish Labour Anas Sarwar Keir Starmer UK Labour Scottish Politics
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