The next UK general election is a “fight for the heart and soul” of the country, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has said as he committed to remain in post for the next five years.
Speaking after Sir Keir Starmer announced he would stand down as Prime Minister, Mr Sarwar rejected assertions that change was needed at a UK and Scottish level.
The Scottish Labour leader urged Sir Keir to quit earlier this year, with senior figures in the party feeling the Prime Minister leaving well ahead of May’s Holyrood election would have yielded a better result than the 17 MSPs returned.
Mr Sarwar spoke to journalists in Glasgow on Monday in the hours after Sir Keir’s Downing Street announcement.
When I talk about that fight for the heart and soul of our country, that is probably the biggest political fight this country will have in a very, very long time
“I’ve been talking to my colleagues, I’ve, of course, been thinking about the outcome of the election and one thing that I am just hungry for today as I was the day before the election is making sure we’re delivering the kind of country that people in this country deserve,” he said.
“When I talk about that fight for the heart and soul of our country, that is probably the biggest political fight this country will have in a very, very long time.
“I want to play my full part in making sure that we defeat the poison of Reform, that Nigel Farage never becomes prime minister of this country and we demonstrate to people that hope can win, that heart can win and that we can unify our great country.”
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.”
Just one leading candidate sticks out in the race for Downing Street – newly-elected Labour MP Andy Burnham.
Mr Sarwar said his job as Scottish leader would be “challenging (candidates) what they mean by change, what meaningful outcomes they will deliver for people here in Scotland and across the UK”.
But he spoke warmly of the former Manchester mayor.
“Andy is someone that I’ve always had a very good relationship with,” he said.
“Many people will have seen over recent years, I have spoken a lot about what Andy has built in Greater Manchester and how we need to replicate some of that here in Scotland.
“If he emerges as the leader of the Labour Party, if he emerges as our next prime minister, I hope that same level of hope, heart and energy that he’s demonstrated in Greater Manchester, as he did in the Makerfield by-election, is something he can reflect across the country.”
He declined to endorse the new MP for leadership and it is understood there has been no contact between the two men since the by-election.
A senior Labour source confirmed Sir Keir sent Mr Sarwar a text on Monday morning informing him of his decision to resign.