Anas Sarwar has defended his call for Sir Keir Starmer to resign, arguing that "honesty is strength" despite facing limited support from Scottish Labour MPs. The Scottish Labour leader told BBC Scotland's Sunday Show that the public values direct leadership over political calculation.
Sarwar's intervention on Monday made him the most senior Labour figure to call for the Prime Minister's resignation, citing «far too many mistakes». The move prompted MPs and UK Cabinet colleagues to rally around Starmer, leaving Sarwar's standing within the wider party diminished.
The Scottish Labour leader rejected suggestions his position amounted to a «coup attempt», insisting he expressed «my view and what I think is right». «Far too many people in politics think honesty is weakness. I think the opposite, and it's why so many people in the public get turned off from politics. I think honesty is strength», he told the programme.
Duncan-Glancy suspension
Sarwar also addressed the suspension of MSP Pam Duncan-Glancy, who was removed from the Scottish Labour whip after defending her relationship with a convicted sex offender. Duncan-Glancy had maintained friendship with Sean Morton, a former Labour councillor in Moray convicted of holding indecent images of children.
The MSP, who was previously sacked from a frontbench role in December following revelations about the friendship, stated she was «deeply disappointed» by the party's decision. Duncan-Glancy argued that while she did not condone Morton's crimes, he remains vulnerable and in need of support.
Sarwar called her position «just wrong». «If someone is a convicted paedophile, they deserve to be shunned. They don't deserve friendship or loyalty», he said.
Election campaign
Sarwar confirmed he will lead the upcoming Scottish Parliament election campaign «from the front». When asked about Starmer's potential involvement, he said: «If he (Sir Keir) wants to come and chap doors as a Labour Party member, of course he'd be welcome to come and chap doors and encourage people to vote for me to be first minister.»
The Prime Minister is not expected to speak at the upcoming Scottish Labour conference. Sarwar also accused First Minister John Swinney and the SNP of «dishonesty» on issues including ferry construction and hospital infections in Glasgow.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
