Anas Sarwar says ‘deeply unhelpful’ leadership briefings must stop

Anas Sarwar has said he “absolutely” has confidence in Keir Starmer following days of briefings against the prime minister from senior party figures.

The Scottish Labour leader said the briefings were “deeply unhelpful” and called for them to stop.

There have been rumours this week of a plot to oust Starmer from Number 10 following the Budget later this month if it does not land well.

One of the key figures thought to be a possible replacement is UK health secretary Wes Streeting, though he has denied any involvement in a plan to challenge Starmer’s leadership.

Sarwar did not answer a journalist's question about whether he would rather have Starmer or Streeting by his side when campaigning for the Scottish Parliament election next May.

Labour has been suffering in the polls for many months owing to a series of unpopular decisions by the UK Government.

Scottish Labour could be among the first casualties of that unpopularity as the Holyrood election – alongside those for the Welsh Senedd and some English councils – is one of the first major electoral tests since the party came to power at Westminster.

Recent polls have Scottish Labour either not moving or even falling behind its current seat total at Holyrood, with the SNP on track to win the most seats.

Asked if he still has confidence in Starmer’s leadership, Sarwar said: “Absolutely. And if Scotland wants to see a meaningful change, the person that we need to change in a top job is the first minister. And that’s the chance the people of Scotland have in six months’ time.”

Speaking to reporters after taking part in the weekly First Minister’s Questions session, he described the briefing war in Westminster as “deeply, deeply unhelpful” and “unacceptable”.

He added: “It doesn't help the government. People should be focused on doing the job they were elected to do and that is to deliver for people across the country.”

On whether there needed to be personnel changes in Downing Street, Sarwar said that was “a matter for the prime minister”.

He did not say whether Starmer specifically would be making an appearance on the campaign trail in the run-up to May but said: “There'll be an involvement from people in terms of campaigning, they’re our Labour family. But let me be really clear, I am leading the campaign in the Scottish elections next year. I am the candidate for first minister.

“Keir Starmer is 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. And the choice people face is a third decade of SNP incompetence or a new direction with me and Scottish Labour.”

Asked whether he would rather have Streeting by his side when speaking to voters on the doorstep than Starmer, he dodged the question and said: “I'm going to be leading from the front in this election campaign to change the direction for Scotland. That’s a campaign I absolutely relish.”