Anas Sarwar to quit as Scottish Labour leader to become Burnham minister

Anas Sarwar is set to quit as Scottish Labour leader to be a minister in Andy Burnham’s Government.

Mr Sarwar will be elevated to the Lords to take up a ministerial post at the revamped Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, headed by Jonathan Reynolds, the Press Association understands.

The Scottish Labour leader, who called for Sir Keir Starmer to step down as prime minister in February, is in London.

He hailed successor Mr Burnham for his “bold Labour vision” as he entered No 10 this week.

Former Greater Manchester mayor Mr Burnham appointed his Cabinet on Monday after taking office, but a raft of ministerial appointments are still to come.

Mr Sarwar has been Scottish Labour leader since 2021.

He said he planned to stay in his post after Sir Keir’s resignation in June.

Asked if he planned to serve for the five-year Holyrood term as party leader, Mr Sarwar said: “That is my intention.

“I’m hungry for the fight ahead and I want to play my full part in making sure this country never ends up in the hands of Nigel Farage and Reform.”

The SNP said it would be a “terrible look” to appoint Mr Sarwar.

The party’s deputy 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.”