I can still be Scotland’s next first minister, says Sarwar as he backs Starmer

Anas Sarwar has backed under fire Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to keep his job, insisting reports that Scottish Labour MPs are seeking to have him replaced are “tittle tattle”.

While there has been speculation Scottish Labour representatives at Westminster want UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting to take over from Sir Keir in the hope of reviving Labour’s flagging support ahead of the May elections, Mr Sarwar dismissed such claims.

Asked about the media reports, he insisted: “I think this is just tittle tattle gossip.

“The person who is going to lose their job in May is (First Minister) John Swinney.”

Recent polls show the SNP is on track to record a fifth consecutive Holyrood election victory in May, but Mr Sarwar said he still believes he can oust the First Minister from power.

Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland’s Breakfast programme, the Scottish Labour leader said: “I believe we will elect a new first minister in this country and I believe that will be me.”

He acknowledged however that he has “a lot of work to do in the next 122 days” if he is to achieve this.

With Holyrood and Welsh Senedd elections taking place on May 7, along with local elections in England, there has been speculation poor results for Labour could heap further pressure on Sir Keir.

Mr Sarwar insisted he is happy going into the election with Sir Keir in Downing Street, saying: “We can’t say we’re going to judge someone after two years.”

Speaking about the Prime Minister, he added that “on many measure of success he is doing a good job”, although he added Sir Keir “has got lots more work to do”.

His comments came as he accepted that people “still want to see more of a big meaningful change” from Sir Keir’s Government.

But Mr Sarwar was “really really clear” that May’s Holyrood election should not be used to judge the performance of the UK Labour Government, saying instead it is a “chance to change the first minister” in Scotland and “make sure we take a different direction”.

Hitting out at his SNP rival, Mr Sarwar said: “The problem is NHS waiting lists are going down in England, they’re not meaningfully coming down in Scotland.

“There are more people in Glasgow waiting more than two years for a hospital appointment than there are in the whole of England combined. We can’t blame Keir Starmer for that, that is John Swinney and the SNP’s fault.”

Insisting Scottish Labour is “up for the fight” and “determined to win” in May, he dismissed the threat from Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party – which some polls have indicated could come in second place at Holyrood.

Mr Sarwar said the “vast majority” of constituency seats at Holyrood would be “direct Labour and SNP fights”.

He added: “Reform can’t win this election, but they can help the SNP win this election, and that is why John Swinney is do desperate to talk them up.”

He went on to accuse Mr Swinney of “trying to dupe his own supporters” with his target for the SNP to win an overall majority in the Scottish Parliament in a bid to force a second independence referendum.

Asked if an SNP majority would be a mandate for a fresh referendum, Mr Sarwar said “It’s not going to happen. We’re going to elect a new government.”

Insisting Mr Swinney’s claims the SNP could win 65 seats or more at Holyrood to be a “bluff”, Mr Sarwar said: “Are we honestly saying that when Nicola Sturgeon was above 50% in the polls, and above 50% in approval ratings and was seen as the mother of the nation during the Covid pandemic, she couldn’t win a majority, but this guy is going to win a majority?

“He is trying to dupe his own supporters.”