Anas Sarwar 'delighted' to become trade minister

Anas Sarwar has said he is “delighted” to join Andy Burnham’s government as the new minister of state for trade.

Sarwar, whose family built a multi-million pound wholesale business, will take up a peerage as a result – a decision which will see him leave the Scottish Parliament.

He previously called for the House of Lords to be scrapped but said the Burnham government will take on “stark” risks and challenges facing the UK.

In a social media statement, he praised his Scottish Labour colleagues including general secretary Kate Watson and confirmed that Jackie Baillie will become acting leader as he steps down.

Sarwar said he was “hugely proud” of his time as Scottish Labour leader but “disappointed and sorry” about its recent Holyrood election performance, saying: “I take my fair share of responsibility for that.”

On his new appointment, he said: “I am delighted and honoured to have been asked by the prime minister to serve every part of the United Kingdom as the minister of state for trade.

“Throughout my life, I have only ever been motivated by public service, the opportunity to serve our country is all I ever asked. That’s why this is an opportunity I humbly accept.”

Responding to the statement, Baillie thanked Sarwar for “his leadership and friendship”. She said: “The Scottish Executive Committee will meet to agree a timetable for the election of the next leader of the Scottish Labour Party.

“Further details of the leadership election will be communicated in due course.”

As a regional MSP, Sarwar’s exit from the Scottish Parliament will not result in a by-election.

It is expected that Monica Lennon will return to Holyrood in his stead as the next candidate on the party’s Glasgow list.

As recently as June he said it was his “intention” to serve his full five-year term as Scottish Labour leader and said he would not take up a seat in the Lords.

Sarwar said: “Britain has phenomenal talent – people bursting with ideas and energy, an entrepreneurial spirit and potential that needs unlocked and unleashed. That is what will drive me every day in this new role.”

His statement came as Downing Street announced 47 new ministerial appointments late on Wednesday night, plus 17 reappointments.

They include Kirsty McNeill as minister of state in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Ian Murray as minister of state in the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, and Blair McDougall as both parliamentary under-secretary of State in the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.

Meanwhile, Melanie Ward will serve as parliamentary under-secretary of state in the Scotland Office and Gregor Poynton as a government whip.

First Minister John Swinney wished Sarwar well in his “exciting new job” but said the appointment was “a very, very strange way of trying to rebuild the confidence of the public in politics”.

Meanwhile, Scottish Green Party co-leader Gillian Mackay called Sarwar a “chancer” and Rachael Hamilton of the Tories said “people will inevitably ask whether he always had one eye on a role at Westminster”.

In contrast, Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said he had “tremendous respect” for Sarwar, adding that he is “glad that he is still going to be playing a role in the life of our country”.