Anas Sarwar hits out at briefers 'undermining' Labour government led by Keir Starmer

However, the Scottish Labour leader was unable to say if the Prime Minister would campaign in next year’s Holyrood election.

Mr Sarwar was pressed after a briefing war engulfed the Labour UK government earlier this week. A move to brief against UK health secretary Wes Streeting, seen as a potential successor, has backfired on Sir Keir’s team.

Sir Keir has reportedly apologised to Mr Streeting for the episode, which the Prime Minister is said to be "incandescent" about.

It has intensified pressure on the Prime Minister's chief of staff Morgan McSweeney whom some - including senior figures in government - hold ultimately responsible for the briefings, as well as the overall culture inside No 10.

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Speaking at First Minister’s Questions on Thursday, John Swinney branded the situation “chaos” as he accused the Labour UK government of “fighting amongst themselves”.

Asked by journalists if he has confidence in the Prime Minister, Mr Sarwar said: “Absolutely.”

He added: “I think the briefing is deeply, deeply unhelpful. It is unacceptable. It doesn’t help the government.

“People should be focused on doing the job that we were elected to do and that is to deliver for people across the country.

“I see a Prime Minister that is working hard every single day, I see a Cabinet that is working hard every single day. I wish we had a government in Scotland that was working hard every single day.”

The Scottish Labour leader admitted the briefing “has undermined the message of the government, particularly going into the Budget period”.

He said: “I know how hard the Prime Minister is working. I know how committed he is to changing the country.

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“I know how hard the UK Cabinet is working and how committed they are to changing the country.”

Pressed over whether Mr McSweeny should leave government, Mr Sarwar said: “I’m not going to get into the personality battles, but the briefing doesn’t help anybody.

“It needs to stop. People need to focus on doing their jobs and that’s what the Prime Minister and Cabinet are doing.”

Mr Sarwar said any potential personnel changes were “a matter for the Prime Minister".

Asked if Sir Keir would join Mr Streeting on the Holyrood campaign trail next year, Mr Sarwar failed to explicitly say the Prime Minister would be part of the campaign.

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Instead he said: “There will be an involvement from people in terms of campaigning - we’re a Labour family.

“I am leading the campaign in the Scottish elections next year. I am the candidate for first minister. Keir Starmer’s not standing to be first minister. Wes Streeting is not standing to be first minister. Rachel Reeves is not standing to be first minister.

“I’m standing to be first minister. John Swinney is standing to be first minister. The choice people face is a third decade of SNP incompetence or a new direction with me and Scottish Labour.”