"Sir Keir whose time Mr Sarwar now considers up is not expected to be on the speaking roster. The Scottish Labour leader's call for Sir Keir's resignation this month was instantly interpreted through the prism of a (stillborn) Westminster coup. In truth, it was more an act of self-isolation stemming from exasperation. As they attempt to challenge the hegemony of the Scottish National party (SNP), unionist parties in Scotland must constantly look over their shoulders and worry about what London is doing."
"But at the time of the general election, no one could have anticipated the chaotic sequence of unpopular policies and U-turns now compounded by the Mandelson scandal which appears to have quashed hopes of a Scottish Labour renaissance at Holyrood. In July 2024, Labour won the most votes and seats in Scotland, benefiting from a 16-point swing from the SNP. The result was hailed as a political sea change and, for the party of John Smith and Gordon Brown, the beginning of a restoration."
Sir Keir Starmer previously told Scottish Labour attendees that turning the government around would take time. Anas Sarwar called for Sir Keir's resignation and is not expected to appear on the Paisley conference speaking roster. The resignation call was widely interpreted as a Westminster coup but stemmed from exasperation and political self-isolation. Unionist parties in Scotland constantly worry about actions from London while attempting to challenge SNP dominance. Chaotic Westminster policies, U-turns and the Mandelson scandal have undermined Scottish Labour's standing. Labour's July 2024 gains risk reversal, and Sarwar seeks to signal independence and exploit SNP vulnerabilities.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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