Anas Sarwar will not stand for Scottish Labour leadership

Anas Sarwar will not stand in the Scottish Labour leadership race, according to Sky News. The MP for Glasgow Central has been deputy leader since 2011 and is the current acting leader.

Known to be ambitious, many had thought Sarwar was a certainty to run, so this development may affect whether others decide to put their name forward.

Instead, it is understood Sarwar wishes to fulfil a “unifying” role as interim leader throughout the selection process, with a view to easing the handover process. This plea for unity was apparent yesterday, when he was asked whether he would run for leader. He replied:

“I want to keep that option. I want to think it through but I think it’s right that I do what’s my responsibility which is to keep the Labour family together, to make sure that we have a quick process to elect a new leader.”

It also now appears that Jackie Baillie MSP has decided not to run. Meanwhile hotly-tipped Kezia Dugdale is leaning towards running for deputy leader, should there be a contest. This follows the news yesterday that Gordon Brown is not going to stand.

UPDATE: Now confirmed by Sarwar himself: “I can confirm that I am not seeking nomination to be leader of the Scottish Labour Party.”

UPDATE II: In the full statement, Sarwar says that his “focus as interim leader has to be on coming through this process with a Scottish Labour Party unified in purpose” and as such will not “publicly declare support for any candidate”. As interim leader, he says, “that would be wrong”. Here’s Sarwar’s statement in full:

“I can confirm that I am not seeking nomination to be Leader of the Scottish Labour Party.

“There is a crucial job to be done in this interim period. For the last 3 years it has been my priority to keep the UK family together, in this coming period I am clear that we will keep the Scottish Labour family together.

“My focus as interim leader has to be on coming through this process with a Scottish Labour Party unified in purpose, stronger in will, speaking out and standing up for the individuals, families and communities who need a Labour Party in Government, delivering on their priorities.

“Of course, there will be a focus on ensuring the process to elect a new leader is done in a smooth but robust manner.

“But, I also have 3 priorities over this period;

– To ensure that we deliver on the pledge to strengthen the Scottish Parliament through the Smith Commission.
– To continue to hold both Governments to account who I believe are failing the people of Scotland as we see inequality on the rise, child poverty increasing, our NHS in crisis and college places being decimated.
– Build towards the General Election so we can help return a Labour Government and a Labour Prime Minister so we can get the real change our nation needs.

“It is not my intention to publicly declare support for any candidate. That would be wrong in my role as Interim Leader.

“Rather, I will be fulfilling my responsibility to the members who elected me, asking the same questions of candidates as I am sure they will be.

“Firstly, how as leader do they intend to deepen the involvement of party members, trade unionists and the wider movement in their policy development process.

“Secondly, how they intend to use the collective talents of our MSPs, MPs, MEPs and Councillors to continue to hold the SNP and Tories to account.

“And, thirdly, how they intend to use the powers the Scottish Parliament has, and the new powers it is guaranteed, to tackle the rising levels of poverty and inequality being visited on the Scottish people by the Tory and SNP Governments.”