Anas Sarwar says 'my interest is in government' as he defends joining Lords
The former Scottish Labour leader caused outrage among party members last month when it was announced he was ditching Holyrood for a peerage and a job in Andy Burnham’s UK Government.
Anas Sarwar has said his “interest is in being in government” as he defended joining the House of Lords.
The former Scottish Labour leader caused outrage among party members last month when it was announced he was ditching Holyrood for a peerage and a job in Andy Burnham’s UK Government.
But he insisted he still wants the Lords to be replaced by a “senate of nations and regions”.
Mr Sarwar was speaking at a recording of Matt Forde’s Political party podcast at Gilded Balloon at the National Museum of Scotland - his first public appearance since standing down as Scottish Labour leader.
He had previously said that he would never take a peerage.
Mr Sarwar said: “To be honest with you, my interest was was more... was joining government and being able to be active in government and try and make a difference to make sure government has a success.
“For me, that’s the bit that is of interest to me.
“I've been in opposition for 16 years. Up until two weeks ago, I never spent a single day being in government or serving any government or trying to work hard to deliver for our country.
“[I have] an opportunity now, one to make sure this local government is a success, and secondly to make sure we have a trade policy that delivers for every postcode in every part of our United Kingdom is an opportunity that I continue to do.”
He said he still believes the current House of Lords should be abolished: “Andy and I both advocated for the senate of the nations. We both believe there should be a second chamber.
“We both believe there should be a revising chamber, but we both also believe that it should be a senate of the nations and regions.
“That was something he and I advocated together for the last couple of years, in particular in his time as Manchester Mayor and my time as Scottish Labour leader.
“But again, I emphasised for me the interest is in being in government and trying to make this government a success, and that's that's what I'm focused on.”
When asked if he was offered to be Scottish Secretary, Mr Sarwar said: “No.”
When asked if he asked for that job, he said: “No.”
Mr Sarwar has warned Scottish Labour leadership candidates about infighting during the race to replace him.
He said he had just left “the hardest job in British politics” and warned those running in the contest to “think about what happens the day after it, not just what happens during it.”
The contest between Monica Lennon, Michael Marra and Joe Fagan has been bitter so far.
Mr Sarwar told the audience at the Edinburgh Fringe: “People talk about the hardest job in British politics, and so often I heard people say that the hardest job in British politics was being the leader of the UK Labour Party in opposition.
“Honestly, hand in heart, because I've done it for five years, the hardest job in British politics is being the leader of the Scottish Labour Party, and for so many reasons, it's the hardest job of the world.
“That's why I'm not going to be one of those former Scottish Labour leaders that's publicly giving advice all the time to ever become the leader of the Scottish Labour Party because the best thing you can do to support someone in that job is be available to give them advice, be supportive of them.
“If they ask you to help, always help them go out your way to help them, but don't be a public commentator for them. That doesn't help them at all, and I'm not going to do that.”
Mr Marra had been Mr Sarwar’s finance spokesperson, while Mr Fagan is backed by many of Mr Sarwar’s closest allies.
Ms Lennon stood against Mr Sarwar in the 2017 contest, taking more than 40 per cent of the vote.
When asked if he would be endorsing anyone in the race to replace him, Mr Sarwar said: “No. Generally, three people are standing. I've got a lot of time for.... I think they are able, talented individuals.
“The one thing I would say to all three of them and to all 17 MSPs is: your relationship with each other, your ability to work with each other, and to look out for each other and support each other is going to be crucial.
“Yes, go through a full leadership election, but think about what happens the day after it, not just what happens during it.”
Ms Lennon is the only candidate not to have enough MP and MSP endorsements to make it onto the ballot.
She has suggested that the contest “reeks of misogyny and male entitlement.”
When asked if Ms Lennon should be on the ballot, he said: “That's for the members to decide.”
When it was put to him that he is a member, Mr Sarwar said: “I don’t have a nomination. The rules are the rules.
“The rules are obeyed by the Scottish Executive Committee. Everyone, of course, has to abide by those rules. But I think whatever happens from the outcome, I think Michael Marra, Joe Fagan, and Monica Lennon all have got a huge role to play if we are going to make sure the Scottish Labour Party is a success and we're able to win the next general election and compete in the next Scottish election as well.
“All the teams, all the individual candidates have to do what they have to do in terms of a campaign, but don't forget you've got to still run that party and be an effective Scottish Labour Party the day after the leadership election result is done, and I think all three of them and all their teams need to keep a focus on that.”
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