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Anas Sarwar is set to quit his role as the Scottish Labour leader to take a role in Andy Burnham’s Government, with the announcement coming as early as tonight.
Our sister title the Record said the The Glasgow MSP would have to take up a berth in the House of Lords to join the new administration.
A Scottish Labour MP said it was a "f****** awful look" for Sarwar to join an unelected chamber.
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A Holyrood ban on ‘dual mandates’ means he cannot be an MSP and peer at the same time and will have to resign from the Scottish Parliament soon.
He would also quit as Scottish Labour leader, forcing a leadership contest. Scottish Labour sources said they expected him to join the Lords with a business role.
Sarwar was elected leader of Scottish Labour in 2021 and has served in the post for five years. He has lost two Holyrood elections but presided over a thumping general election victory in 2024.
Asked before the Holyrood election if he would ever take up a seat in the House of Lords, Sarwar said: "No. I'm focused on being First Minister of this great country."
Sarwar hoped to win May’s election, but in the end led his party to their worst result in the history of devolution.
The Glasgow MSP has been in London for Burnham’s reshuffle and his friendship with the new PM has paid off.
The pair are pals and Sarwar is known to have been relieved Burnham toppled Keir Starmer. Sarwar famously called for Starmer to quit in February after becoming frustrated with the mistakes of the Government.
The MSP was expected to cling on as Scottish Labour leader until later this year but he has accepted a job in the Government.
Standing down as Glasgow MSP will likely mean a return for Monica Lennon, who Sarwar defeated in the 2021 Scottish Labour leadership contest.
She could be a contender in any contest, with MSPs Michael Marra and Paul Sweeney also tipped to stand.
SNP Depute Leader, Keith Brown MSP, said: “This is a terrible look for Andy Burnham who waxed lyrical about a new politics and devolving power - he’s just pulled the most undemocratic trick in the Westminster book.“Anas Sarwar led Scottish Labour to their worst ever election defeat, but as is always the case with the Labour Party, there’s always a cushty number in the House of Lords.“What a signal to send after their democractic defeat - this is the Labour Party literally lording it over the people of Scotland.“This morning Andy Burnham denied Scottish democracy in a phone call with Scotland’s First Minister, tonight he appoints a failed Scottish Labour leader to the Lords. This new Labour Government has deeply damaged its democratic credibility tonight.“Andy Burnham raised the question of where power lies on these islands - it’s clear the Labour Party are still stubbornly determined to keep it firmly in the grip of a detached and undemocratic Westminster establishment.”
