Amid anger about Sarwar, Labour needs to focus on getting a passionate fighter as next leader – Barrie Cunning
The Scottish people want to see a fighter who will work night and day to improve their lives as their next Labour leader
As I returned from a week’s holiday in Turkey, it felt like a different world politically in both Scotland and the UK. Out with the old and in with the new. Andy Burnham is now Prime Minister, there is a new Cabinet in place and I’m glad to see my friend Jonny Reynolds being appointed as Business Secretary, a role he previously held and one he will excel in.
Unlike the previous administration, Andy has brought back a sense of hope and is already being seen to do things to make life better for people. That sense of optimism will carry him for some time with the electorate but, like all things in politics, the proof is in the policy and delivery, and we all know the challenges that are coming down the line especially as we enter the winter months.
The scale of the challenge is huge. It will mean making some tough decisions and naturally there will be an opportunity cost associated with that decision-making.
Feeling angry and let down
But, for me, the big news was the announcement that Anas Sarwar is resigning as leader of the Scottish Labour party to become a peer and join Jonny’s team as a business minister, resulting in a leadership contest to find his replacement.
Whilst sitting at Side (pronounced as ‘see-day’) in Turkey, having some Turkish coffee and taking in the view, my phone was working overtime as I was inundated with messages from friends, clients and other people keen to know more about what was going on and why Anas was stepping down.
But like everyone else this was news to me. Although there had been an expectation that Anas would at some point step down as leader, most people didn’t expect it to come so soon, maybe more like this time next year.
Let me be straight with you. As a former candidate for Holyrood, I know the amount of effort and sacrifice that goes into a campaign and I understand why members, especially those that were candidates, may feel a sense of being let down and anger over this decision.
As I’ve said before, Anas was the best leader the Scottish Labour party has had for a long time. I remember grabbing a coffee with him after the 2021 election in Edinburgh and you could see the passion and determination he had. But as we know in politics, events outwith your control can often determine your political fortunes, and that’s what happened with Anas.
Under his stewardship of the party, it was a disciplined group that worked well, winning the Hamilton byelection and playing a key role in the 2024 general election. But sadly those successes were overshadowed by decisions taken at Westminster under the previous administration, which quite frankly were the wrong decisions.
Focussing on the future
However, the timing of his departure isn’t great as the party is overseeing a review into the lessons learned from the Holyrood election. But the reality is that a new Cabinet has been appointed and it’s clear that Andy wants his top team of talent at the forefront of his government. By having Anas as part of that, it enhances Scotland’s voice within the UK government.
However, north of the Border, the focus now must be on the future direction of the Scottish Labour party. It is no stranger to leadership contests and, in the coming days, the Scottish Executive Committee will meet to agree a timetable for the inevitable debates.
I stood for Labour ten years ago and after that election there was the usual nod to learning lessons, undertaking a review and ensuring that Scottish Labour would be on a better footing in future elections.
The focus now must be on going forward. The party needs to have a clear idea of what it’s about and what it wants to do. That starts by rebuilding trust with the electorate, having a policy basis that people can understand and creating a party that is relevant and engaging.
There has been a lot of talk about the Scottish party becoming independent from UK Labour. I’m not convinced that is the solution to reversing Scottish Labour’s current troubles, but nonetheless I’m sure this will be discussed during the leadership contest.
Unique selling point
As I’ve said before, the Scottish people want to see a fighter, they want to see someone who has their back, someone that is going to work night and day to improve their lives. To be ambitious for Scotland is to be ambitious for its people and that starts by having clear policies.
In a crowded political market where everyone is competing for the same vote, it is vital that you have a unique selling point that stands out and resonates with people. They want a party of government that is going to support them to get that new house, start a business, address the cost-of-living crisis and bolster public services including the NHS.
Scotland is not immune from pressures in those areas and when I think about the type of leadership I want to see, the next Scottish Labour leader needs to be someone with a passion and energy for Scotland and for change, someone who is in tune with the needs of the Scottish people and who can clearly articulate the Scottish Labour party’s core offer.
Barrie Cunning is the founder of Scotland 2050, managing director of Pentland Communications and a former Scottish Labour candidate in the 2016 Scottish Parliament election
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