苏格兰工党领导人Anas Sarwar宣布辞去党魁职位，将加入英国首相Andy Burnham政府 [1]。他被任命为贵族并担任商业、创新、科学和贸易部部长 [1]。
这一决定引发了苏格兰政坛的强烈反应。苏格兰绿党领导人Gillian Mackay批评Sarwar是"投机者"，指控他"从承诺废除上议院变成了要在其中占据席位" [1]。苏格兰民族党MSP George Adam则表示，"工党和Anas Sarwar向苏格兰人民反复否认和谎报Anas Sarwar的意图" [1]。
Sarwar的辞职决定显得特别引人注目，因为这发生在苏格兰工党在Holyrood选举中创造历史最差成绩后不到三个月 [1]。2022年，Sarwar曾表示将不入选上议院 [1]。
Sarwar在议会的席位将由候选名单中的下一位Monica Lennon接替 [1]。苏格兰工党现仅有17名MSP可作为新领导人的候选人 [1]。
Anas Sarwar has announced his resignation as leader of Scottish Labour to accept a position in Prime Minister Andy Burnham's government [1]. Sarwar will be appointed to the peerage and take on the role of minister for business, innovation, science and trade [1].
The departure has drawn sharp criticism from Scottish political rivals. Scottish Green Party leader Gillian Mackay accused Sarwar of being "a chancer," noting that "he went from promising to abolish the House of Lords to wanting a seat in it" [1]. Scottish National Party MSP George Adam alleged that "Labour and Anas Sarwar have repeatedly denied and misrepresented Anas Sarwar's intentions to the people of Scotland" [1]. Sarwar had previously stated in 2022 that he would not take a seat in the upper chamber [1].
The timing of Sarwar's departure has intensified the backlash, coming less than three months after Scottish Labour recorded its worst-ever performance in Holyrood elections [1]. The move has also sparked internal shock within the party [1].
Monica Lennon will inherit Sarwar's parliamentary seat through the candidates list [1]. The search for a new party leader will draw from Scottish Labour's pool of 17 MSPs [1].