Anas Sarwar’s plan to boost his election hopes by removing Sir Keir Starmer from Downing Street appears only to have created more division in the Scottish Labour ranks.
The Scottish party leader called for the resignation of the Prime Minister in order to save his failing election campaign in Scotland.
But two senior ministers – Scotland Secretary Douglas Alexander and culture minister Ian Murray – came out in support of Sir Keir, leaving Mr Sarwar isolated and exposed. Other Cabinet ministers rallied behind the Prime Minister ahead of his meeting with MPs this evening.
Speaking at an unscheduled press conference in Glasgow, the Scottish leader described Sir Keir Starmer as a “decent man” who had dedicated his life to public service and his decision to call for his resignation came after a “lot of thinking over the last few days”.
He said: “I have to do what is right for my country. This isn’t easy and it is not without pain as I have a genuine friendship with Sir Keir Starmer, but my first priority and my first loyalty is to Scotland.
“That’s why the distraction needs to end and the leadership in Downing Street has to change.”
He added that “the failures at the heart of Downing Street” should not be allowed to mean failure continues in Scotland.
Commenting on Downing Street’s mistakes, he said: “Have there been good things? Of course there have – many of them. But no one knows them, and no one can hear them because they are being drowned out. That’s why it cannot continue.”
He said that, like Sir Keir, he had also dedicated himself to public service “and I need to decide what I am willing to accept and what I am willing to tolerate.”
The shock intervention by Mr Sarwar came as a further damaging blow to the Prime Minister whose future hangs in the balance over his appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador. Tim Allan, his director of communications, followed chief of staff Morgan McSweeney out of Downing Street.
Uncertainty over the Prime Minister’s tenure in Downing Street extended to speculation that he might call a general election to avoid the personal humiliation of resigning. However, with Labour lagging in the polls an early poll would almost certainly seal his departure.
Mr Sarwar said he was not backing any particular candidate as a successor to Sir Keir, saying his decision was based only on what was good for Scotland.
He said he had told Sir Keir of his decision ahead of making today’s announcement.
However, a number of Cabinet ministers came out in support of the Prime Minister, notably the Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary David Lammy.
They were followed by Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, who said: “This is not the time for the government to turn inwards on itself. We must focus on delivering the change we promised the country.”
Scotland Secretary Douglas Alexander put himself at odds with Mr Sarwar by saying the prime minister “has recognised not just that lessons have to be learned but also that we change how we do government. He is right about that and has my support”.
Ian Murray, the culture minister and Mr Alexander’s predecessor, added to cracks in Scottish Labour, saying: “The last thing we need is more chaos when the public want a government 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.
“I’m sorry & deeply disappointed that Anas is wrong here.”
Opposition parties revelled in the dischord in the Labour party. SNP MP Kirsty Blackman said: “Anas Sarwar would sell his own granny. His latest U-turn reeks of desperation, hypocrisy and opportunism – and raises serious questions about his own role in the Peter Mandelson scandal and the appalling personal judgement he continues to show to this day.
“Mr Sarwar can’t get off the hook. He bragged about Mandelson being an ‘old friend’ despite knowing his close links to Jeffrey Epstein, the world’s most notorious convicted paedophile, were a matter of public record. If Starmer must go – why shouldn’t Sarwar?”
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay said: “This scandal-ridden Labour government are in complete meltdown.
“Anas Sarwar is desperately trying to distance himself from Keir Starmer but Scots will not be fooled. They know Sarwar stood shoulder to shoulder with him throughout the General Election campaign and was only installed as Scottish Labour leader thanks to Starmer intervening to remove Richard Leonard.
“Sarwar cannot escape the blame for the chaos that is engulfing Downing Street given he has backed major decisions from the Prime Minister every step of the way, including the appointment of his old friend Peter Mandelson as US ambassador.”
Scottish Green Party co-leader Gillian Mackay said: “It’s a devastating day for Labour when even Anas Sarwar agrees that the Prime Minister cannot be trusted.
“How can he ask people to support a Labour party that is led by a man who even he thinks is unfit for office?”
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