Majority of Scots say Sarwar was right to call on Starmer to quit
A new poll shows public backing for the decision
A majority of Scots believe Anas Sarwar was right to call on Keir Starmer to quit Downing Street, a new poll shows.
A Norstat survey for The Sunday Times shows 52 per cent support his decision, while only 26 per cent do not.
However, the move has yet to improve Scottish Labour’s prospects, with the party still languishing in third place behind the SNP and Reform.
Polling expert Sir John Curtice said it could even have made things worse.
"Crucially, for the first time, slightly more (33 per cent) of those who voted Labour in 2024 now believe Sarwar is doing a bad job as Labour's Scottish leader than feel he is doing a good one (30 per cent),” he said.
"Sarwar's attempt on Monday to escape seemingly inevitable defeat in May has, it seems, left him, if anything, in an even weaker position to turn things around."
The latest poll shows the SNP on 35 per cent in the constituency vote and 30 per cent in the regional list. Reform is on 19 per cent in both the constituency vote and regional list, while Labour is on 17 per cent in both.
The Scottish Tories are polling at 10 per cent in constituencies and 11 per cent in regions, and the Liberal Democrats are on 8 per cent and 7 per cent respectively. The Scottish Greens are on 8 per cent and 11 per cent.
Norstat polled 1,001 Scottish adults between Tuesday and Friday.
Jackie Baillie, Scottish Labour’s deputy leader, said: "This poll demonstrates that Anas Sarwar was right to be honest with Scots and they have responded positively to that.
"His only interest is in the future of Scotland and the next election is about who runs Scotland, our NHS, schools and public services.”
It came as Mr Sarwar defended his decision to call for the Prime Minister to quit despite few Scottish MPs backing it, saying the public will value his “honesty”.
He said he is not part of any “coup attempt” against Sir Keir and made a decision based on “my view and what I think is right”.
Appearing on BBC Scotland’s Sunday Show, he said: “Far too many people in politics think honesty is weakness. I think the opposite, and it’s why so many people in the public get turned off from politics. I think honesty is strength.”
He went on to accuse First Minister John Swinney and the SNP of “dishonesty” on issue like the construction of ferries and hospital infections in Glasgow.
Asked if he would campaign with Sir Keir ahead of the upcoming Scottish Parliament election, Mr Sarwar said he will be leading the campaign himself “from the front”.
He said: “If he (Sir Keir) wants to come and chap doors as a Labour Party member, of course he’d be welcome to come and chap doors and encourage people to vote for me to be first minister.”
Mr Sarwar went on to say that the Prime Minister would not be expected to appear at the upcoming Scottish Labour conference.
On Friday, Mr Sarwar told journalists: "I feel liberated and energised for the election campaign ahead, because for me, my first loyalty and my first priority is to my country, Scotland."
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