185. Can Labour Win Back Scotland? (Anas Sarwar)
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
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You did call for the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, to resign, right? I mean, that's a big deal for a Labour leader in Scotland.
I was making it abundantly clear that my first priority and my first loyalty is to my country, Scotland. And frankly, I don't really care what people in Westminster think. I only care what people in Scotland think. You must care who the prime minister is. Look, I'm not doing it to run against a UK Labour government. I'm running against a Scottish SNP government. Let's be honest. Are we spending every penny of public money well?
What led Anas Sarwar to call for Keir Starmer's resignation?
We're not. We will demonstrate to the rest of the UK how you can win in the politics of hope and unity, not feed off the politics of despair.
I guess you're very politely skirting around one of the massive things.
I'm happy not to be polite, Rony, and don't let me skirt. Cut to the chase. I'm happy to cut to the chase.
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Welcome to The Rest Is Politics Leading with me, Rory Stewart. And with me, Alastair Campbell. And we are with Anas Sarwar. Anas Sarwar is a second-generation Pakistani Scot. He is a second-generation Labour Member of Parliament who followed his dad, Mohammed, into the Westminster Parliament before losing his seat in 2015 after just one term. A year after that, he became a member of the Scottish Parliament. And five years after that, he became leader of Scottish Labour.
How does Anas Sarwar plan to tackle Islamophobia in Scotland?
And in Scottish elections on May the 7th, so 30 odd days away, he hopes to become Scotland's first minister after 19 years of an SNP government. Now, that prospect looked very likely after the last UK general election when Scotland played its part in the Labour landslide since when SNP fortunes seem to have recovered and Labour's fortunes have declined, sufficient for Anas to call for none other than Keir Starmer to resign as Prime Minister. We'll get into all of that, but I think we like to start with the backstory, don't we, Rory? Anas does have quite a good backstory.
You definitely do, Anas. Let's start with your father, who I remember. And of course, I remember you coming into Parliament in 2010. Tell us a little bit about your father and mother and a little bit about your father's political career, which was quite unusual in many ways.
Yeah, look, I mean, I had a really different upbringing in the sense of I was being brought up in a household where my dad, when I was in my really early years, trying to set up and doing it really well, successful family business, successful wholesale business. And then wanting to become a councillor in the city of Glasgow. And then obviously wanting to become Britain's first Muslim member of parliament. And while lots of people, it's interesting you mentioned about both my mum and my dad, it's really interesting because lots of people think that automatically somehow maybe I get my politics from my dad. But in actual fact, I always say that the best politician in our family
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Chapters
6 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:00–0:41
2
What led Anas Sarwar to call for Keir Starmer's resignation?
0:41–2:28
3
How does Anas Sarwar plan to tackle Islamophobia in Scotland?
2:28–12:57
4
What challenges does Scottish Labour face in the upcoming election?
12:57–15:06
5
How does Anas Sarwar view the SNP's long-standing governance?
15:06–23:02
6
What is Anas Sarwar's stance on potential coalitions with other parties?
23:02–1:05:30
Speakers
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