![\"Anas](\"https:\/\/dailybusinessgroup.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Anas-Sarwar-2025-11-27-at-12.59.18-scaled.png\")
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar will today attempt to distance himself from Labour\u2019s troubles at Westminster by focusing his election campaign on the SNP\u2019s record.<\/p>\n
Mr Sarwar will insist that he can still win in May despite the polls pointing to a slump in Labour\u2019s support across the UK as voters express anger at broken promises and a failure to improve the economy and public services.<\/p>\n
In a speech to Labour loyalists in Edinburgh, he will attempt to steer the election campaign away from criticism surrounding Labour at Westminster and a potential leadership challenge to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.<\/p>\n
Mr Sarwar will say that the election \u201cisn\u2019t about a government elsewhere but about who leads Scotland\u2019s government and what happens here at home \u2013 in Scotland\u2019s schools, hospitals, care homes and communities\u201d.<\/p>\n
He will declare: \u201cIn May, you\u2019re not choosing a Prime Minister \u2013 you\u2019re choosing a First Minister.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd ultimately, there are only two options: another decade of the SNP with John Swinney, or change with me as First Minister.\u201d<\/p>\n
However, there has been a backlash against Mr Sarwar himself over his failure to fulfil pledges such as saving the Grangemouth oil refinery and claiming energy bills would come down.<\/p>\n
Polls show Labour trailing badly, with most pointing to a third place finish behind the SNP and Reform UK.<\/p>\n An Ipsos poll before Christmas showed the SNP maintaining its lead with 35% of the constituency vote share \u2013 although this is significantly weaker than the 47.7% the party achieved at the last Holyrood election in 2021. <\/p>\n Reform UK\u2019s share of the vote has risen, with 18%, up 4 points since June. Scottish Labour\u2019s vote has fallen further, to 16% \u2013 down 7 points since June. \u00a0 The Conservatives were on 11% (+1), the Liberal Democrats 9% (no change), and the Scottish Green Party 9% (no change).<\/p>\n Mr Sarwar will say: \u201cI get that as Scottish Labour we start this year as underdogs. But to John Swinney and anyone else who says we can\u2019t win \u2013 whether they be other politicians, journalists, commentators or pollsters \u2013 underestimate me, underestimate the people in this room, underestimate thousands across the country at your peril.<\/p>\n \u201cI am not daunted by the challenge \u2013 we are up for the fight and we are determined to win.\u201d<\/p>\n Mr Swinney and Conservative party leader Russell Findlay will also make election pledges, with the First Minister pledging that the SNP will use the 2026 election campaign \u201cto build a national movement of hope across Scotland.\u201d<\/p>\n Speaking in Glasgow, he will claim \u201cthe increasingly right-wing Westminster system\u201d is making people in Scotland poorer, while he has a vision \u201cfor a better Scotland with independence which allows us to rejoin the EU, build an economy that works for everyone and bring down energy bills.\u201d<\/p>\n He is unlikely to explain how his government will bring down energy bills or reveal how he intends to achieve independence that will be required for Scotland to re-enter the EU.<\/p>\n Mr Findlay will state that cost of living pressures facing Scots \u201cshould and will define\u201d the Holyrood election.<\/p>\n \u201cVoters face a simple choice in a few months\u2019 time,\u201d he will say. \u201cEither five more years of the SNP and other left-wing parties hitting them with more tax rises, or our positive plan to bring down bills by focusing on growing the economy.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Scottish Conservatives will fight for Scotland\u2019s strivers and champion the virtues of lower taxation. Our common-sense approach will help build a stronger Scotland of opportunity for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n \t <\/div>\n![\"Grangemouth\"](\"https:\/\/dailybusinessgroup.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Grangemouth-BBC.png\")
![\"John](\"https:\/\/dailybusinessgroup.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/John-Swinney-at-Fresh-Start-2-October-2025.png\")