Anas Sarwar criticises 'idiotic' Scottish Labour MPs for secret briefing against Keir Starmer
The Scottish Labour leader has called on his colleagues briefing against the Prime Minister to come out of the shadows
Anas Sarwar has criticised his “idiotic” MPs amid reports several of his Scottish Labour colleagues have been briefing against Keir Starmer and want the Prime Minister to be removed from Downing Street.
Reports have suggested that a host of Scottish Labour MPs want Sir Keir to be replaced by Wes Streeting before May’s election, prompting sources close to the PM to brand those Scottish MPs “idiots”.
One source was reported as saying that “these idiots need to stop being part of the problem”, while another branded them “hypocrites”.
Speaking to journalists in Glasgow, the Scottish Labour leader called on those briefing against the Prime Minister to go on the record, and branded their actions “idiotic”.
READ MORE: Revealed: How Scottish Labour hopes it can turn tables on SNP and snatch power in Holyrood election
He said: “Anyone that thinks the answer to any issue is to do briefings or counter briefings or talk negatively about their colleagues, I think that is idiotic.
“I think anyone that engages in that behaviour, regardless of which political party they are in, regardless of which part of the country they are in - is idiotic.”
Mr Sarwar added: “The best thing our ministers can do is be behind their doors, at their desks, improving outcomes for people across the country.
“The best thing that Scottish Labour MPs can do is be on the front line with their candidate, making the arguments about what the choice is in Scotland in helping us get rid of the SNP and elect a new government.
“If anyone has something to say, they should be brave enough to put their name to it.”
The Scottish Labour leader branded the reports “tittle tattle” and suggested the Labour government should “not be shy” in boasting about its record.
Mr Sarwar was speaking after launching his campaign to become the next first minister on Monday, insisting he can still defeat John Swinney despite polling suggesting that feat is out of reach.
The Scottish Labour leader told The Scotsman that over the last five years at the helm of his party, he has “seen lots of negative polling”, claiming that “every single time, we prove them wrong”.
He added: “I’m absolutely convinced we’re going to do the same again.
“I’m absolutely certain that when the arguments are put in front of the people of Scotland, when the choice is put in front of the people of Scotland and they have two clear choices…I’m confident people will choose that new direction.”
One Scottish Labour MP dismissed the idea that all Scottish Labour MPs wanted to get rid of the Prime Minister: “We are actually a pretty tight group who get on really well and the idea that we are united behind a leadership challenge is so far wide of the mark.
“Nothing will happen, there will be no coup.”
They added that the Scottish PLP found it “laughable” that it had been claimed that “every single Scottish Labour MP wanted the PM to go or part of the coup to remove him”
One Labour source said that the alleged plot had been some MPs “sounding off” in private conversations. When they found that some others agreed, it led them “to ponder if [getting rid of the Prime Minister] was do-able”
Another Labour source said the alleged plotting was “just folk spouting off”.
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