Saturday, February 27, 2021

Anas Sarwar wins Scottish Labour leadership election, becoming first 
party leader from Muslim background

In the coming weeks, Mr Sarwar said, he would lay out his vision for a “Covid recovery parliament” following the next election, which would focus on tackling the economic, health and societal impacts of the pandemic
Anas Sarwar has announced his bid to become the next leader of Scottish Labour, following the resignation of Richard Leonard (Photo: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

By Charlie Duffield
February 27, 2021 

Anas Sarwar has been named leader of the Scottish Labour Party, beating Monica Lennon by 57.6 per cent to 42.4 per cent.

Mr Sarwar takes over after the resignation of Richard Leonard in January and just ten weeks away from the Holyrood elections, with his party currently languishing in third place behind the SNP and the Conservatives.

He is the first person from a Muslim background to lead a major UK party, and one of the first from an ethnic minority background following Women’s Equality Party leader Mandu Reid.

Mr Sarwar said his election was “the greatest honour of my life”.

In a speech to members after the announcement, he thanked Ms Lennon for a campaign that “has shown the best of our party, not the worst of our politics”.

In a video message, Mr Sarwar said: “I want to say directly to the people of Scotland – I know Labour has a lot of work to do to win back your trust.

“Because if we’re brutally honest, you haven’t had the Scottish Labour Party you deserve.


“With rising injustice, inequality and division, I’m sorry we haven’t been good enough. I will work day and night to change that, so we can build the country we all need.”

UK Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: “Huge congratulations to @AnasSarwar on his election as Leader of the Scottish Labour Party. I look forward to working with him to secure our economy, protect our NHS and rebuild our country.

“We will fight the Scottish Parliamentary elections by making the case for a socially just Scotland in a modern United Kingdom. Under his leadership, Scottish Labour will focus on what unites us – not what divides us.

“I know Anas will do the hard work that is necessary to win back the trust of the Scottish people and build for the future as we emerge from this pandemic.

“Today we have elected the first-ever ethnic minority leader of a political party in the UK.

“That doesn’t say something about me. That says something great about Scotland and its people. But the fight for equality is far from over.

“I’ll work with all our diverse communities in Scotland to rebuild the country we love.”

Mr Sarwar concluded: “I’m determined that the Labour Party I lead will always be on your side.

“Because I will be a leader who focuses on what unites our country – not what divides it. Together we will build a better future for Scotland.”

In the coming weeks, Mr Sarwar said, he would lay out his vision for a “Covid recovery parliament” following the next election, which would focus on tackling the economic, health and societal impacts of the pandemic.

Mr Sarwar has repeatedly voiced his opposition to another independence referendum while his opponent in the race said it was important the party did not “deny democracy” if a pro-independence majority is elected to Holyrood in May.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon extended her congratulations to the Glasgow MSP on Twitter.

“Congratulations to Anas Sarwar – he (and his dad before him) and I are long-time political opponents, but I also like and rate him,” she said.

“That may not always be obvious in the weeks ahead as election battle is joined, so worth saying so now.”

Scotland’s justice minister Humza Yousef also tweeted his congratulations, stating: “This makes him first Muslim & Person of Colour leading a political party in UK, an incredible & historic achievement of which I am proud of him for. Well done Anas”.

Shadow Foreign Secretary Lisa Nandy said it was “a new chapter in the history of Scottish Labour.”






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