Anas Sarwar to resign as Scottish Labour leader to join Prime Minister Andy Burnham in Number 10

Anas Sarwar is expected to step down as leader of Scottish Labour and take up a ministerial position in Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s new government, according to reports emerging on Tuesday evening.

The move would see Sarwar, who has led Scottish Labour since 2021, leave Holyrood politics and likely accept a peerage to sit in the House of Lords, allowing him to serve in a UK-wide ministerial role under Burnham.

Leadership Under Pressure:

Sarwar’s departure comes amid mounting criticism of his leadership following Scottish Labour’s underwhelming performance in the recent Holyrood election. The party tied with Reform UK on 17 seats, a result widely seen as disappointing for what was once the main opposition to the SNP at Holyrood.

Political observers note that Sarwar has remained in London as Burnham’s cabinet takes shape, and he was present in the audience during Burnham’s first major speech as Prime Minister on Monday. He has not yet issued a public statement on the reports.

Political Backdrop

Sarwar was one of the first senior Labour figures to publicly call for Sir Keir Starmer’s resignation earlier this year amid internal party turmoil, including the Peter Mandelson controversy. His alignment with Burnham — who successfully challenged and replaced Starmer — appears to have positioned him for a role in the new administration.

A peerage would allow Sarwar to transition from Scottish devolved politics to the UK government without triggering an immediate by-election for his Glasgow constituency seat, which he retained in the Holyrood vote.

What Happens Next?

Scottish Labour’s ruling body will now need to trigger a leadership contest. Potential successors have not yet been widely speculated upon publicly, though the party will be keen to stabilise ahead of future electoral challenges, including any Westminster developments.

The development underscores the rapid changes in UK politics following Starmer’s exit and Burnham’s ascent. It also highlights the fluid nature of Labour’s internal alliances, with Sarwar moving from vocal critic of the previous leadership to a potential minister in the new one.