Anas Sarwar has refused to say if the Prime Minister should face a leadership challenge if Labour does badly in Thursday’s elections.
While polls suggest Labour could do badly in elections for the devolved parliaments in Scotland and Wales, and in local councils elections in England, the Scottish Labour leader insisted his “focus” was on “removing John Swinney from office” – and not what could happen in Westminster.
SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn has already criticised the “squabbling” and “political infighting” in the UK Government, likening prospective candidates vying to succeed Sir Keir Starmer to “auditions for Labour Party Celebrity Traitors”.
There has been speculation that UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner could all be considering launching a leadership challenge against the PM.
But Mr Sarwar, who has already called on the Prime Minister to step down, made clear his focus was on Thursday’s Holyrood ballot – and not on any political maneuvering at Westminster.
And despite a poll on Monday showing Labour could drop to just 13 MSPs at Holyrood, Mr Sarwar said: “I’m entirely convinced this election isn’t over.”
He added that Labour’s internal figures were better than they had been in last years Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election, which the party won – and were “going up”.
Mr Sarwar went on to say that 38 of the 73 Holyrood constituencies seats were “on a knife edge” and could “decide this election”.
Vote to reject Reform. Vote to beat the SNP. Vote for change. Use both your votes for Scottish Labour on May 7. pic.twitter.com/2Y6pJj8Srx
— Scottish Labour (@ScottishLabour) May 1, 2026
But when pressed on why people should vote Labour when the party is in “chaos” at Westminster, he said: “Scotland is in chaos under an SNP government, we need a new government and only I can deliver that new government.
“I don’t care about what’s happening at Westminster or Westminster politicians, I’m only focused on Scotland.
“All I care about is Scotland’s schools, Scotland’s hospitals.”
Speaking as he campaigned in Bathgate, West Lothian, Mr Sarwar continued: “This election in Scotland is about removing John Swinney as First Minister and changing the occupant of Bute House.
“I care only about what happens in Scotland, because this election is about our schools, our hospitals, our public services.
“It’s about our local businesses, our towns, cities, villages and islands and I don’t want another decade of SNP rule inflicted on this great country.”
The Scottish Labour leader added: “If you want to know what is happening in Wales go talk to those in Wales, if you want to know what is happening in England go talk to those in England.
“I’m standing to be first minister of Scotland, that is my focus and removing John Swinney from office, beating the SNP, rejecting the poison of Reform and changing Scotland is all I am interested in.”
His message to Scots ahead of May 7 was: “In three days time we have the opportunity to change the government in Scotland.
“If you want to reject the poison of Reform, if you want to beat the SNP, and if you want to change Scotland, there is only one route to that change and that is a vote for me and Scottish Labour.”
