Anas Sarwar has confirmed he will step down as Scottish Labour leader after accepting a ministerial role in Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s government. Anas Sarwar announced he will become Minister of State for Trade and described the appointment as an honour. Meanwhile, Anas Sarwar said he remains committed to serving people across the United Kingdom in his new position.
Sarwar will leave the Scottish Parliament to take up the ministerial post. He will also receive a life peerage, allowing him to sit in the House of Lords. He has led Scottish Labour since 2021. During that time, he worked to rebuild the party’s support across Scotland.
In a statement, Sarwar said he accepted the position with humility. Furthermore, he thanked supporters for allowing him to represent Glasgow and Scotland throughout his political career. He described public service as his lifelong motivation. Therefore, he said he welcomed the opportunity to serve the entire United Kingdom.
Sarwar also acknowledged Labour’s disappointing result in the recent Scottish Parliament election. He accepted responsibility for the outcome and said he shared the disappointment felt by party members. Scottish Labour secured 17 seats in the election, marking the party’s weakest Holyrood performance.
Despite that setback, Sarwar said the country faces significant political challenges. Moreover, he argued that Labour must succeed in responding to growing political pressures across Britain. Following his resignation, Dame Jackie Baillie will become acting leader of Scottish Labour.
She thanked Sarwar for his leadership and praised his commitment to building a fairer Scotland. Additionally, she confirmed the Scottish Executive Committee will organise the timetable for the party’s leadership election. Party officials will announce further details about the leadership contest in the coming weeks.
Sarwar’s departure will not trigger a by-election because voters elected him through the regional list system. Instead, Monica Lennon is expected to replace him in the Scottish Parliament under existing electoral rules. The appointment has also attracted criticism from opposition parties.
First Minister John Swinney wished Sarwar success in his new role. However, he questioned the decision to appoint him to the House of Lords while discussing political reform. Meanwhile, Scottish Green co-leader Gillian Mackay criticised Sarwar for accepting a peerage. She argued the move conflicted with his previous support for abolishing the House of Lords.
Scottish Conservative deputy leader Rachael Hamilton also criticised the appointment. She claimed Sarwar had previously promised to focus solely on Scottish politics.Meanwhile, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton offered a different response.
He praised Sarwar’s contribution to Scottish public life. Furthermore, he acknowledged the personal pressures that often accompany political leadership. Labour MP Brian Leishman said the leadership change creates an opportunity for renewal.
He argued Scottish Labour should develop stronger policies and reconnect with voters before the next election. Meanwhile, Burnham continues building his new administration after entering Downing Street earlier this week. Sarwar’s appointment represents one of the latest additions to the new government.
His departure also opens a significant new chapter for Scottish Labour as members prepare to choose their next permanent leader.
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