VOTING Labour will put Scottish MPs at the heart of a UK Government, Anas Sarwar has said.

In a speech that kicks off the party’s long General Election campaign, the Scottish Labour leader said SNP MPs at Westminster had failed over the last 10 years.

Sarwar said he wanted people, no matter who they voted for previously, or whether they were yes or no in the referendum to back Labour to show there is an alternative that can fix Scotland’s problems and stay in the UK.

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He said: “After a decade of SNP MPs shouting at Westminster with nothing to show for it, it’s about demonstrating that Scotland’s voice must be more than just a protest.

“It’s about maximising Scotland’s influence and giving Scotland a seat at the table, making decisions that benefit the lives of people across the country. 

“But it’s about making sure that Scotland has a voice at the heart of the next UK Labour government so that it delivers for Scotland.” 

Glasgow Times:

In a speech in Rutherglen Town Hall, Sarwar attacked both the Conservatives and the SNP as he looked ahead to the next Holyrood election in 2026.

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He said both the Tories at Westminster and SNP at Holyrood had “thrived off division”.

Sarwar said they were: “Two governments that have prioritised conflict, over delivery.”

He said a Labour Government would “reset devolution”.

Asked if that involved new powers for Holyrood he said all levels of government needed reform.

He said: “We’ve set out the Gordon Brown commission and published our own papers last summer on the change we want to see.

“It’s important to stress that this pretence that somehow only Westminster is broken and everything else is fine is just not true.”

He said the Lords, the Commons, Holyrood and local councils needed reform

He added: “We will change every layer in government and we will set that out in more detail in our manifesto.”

Sarwar said: “I’ve always been clear we have to get rid of not one failing government but two.

“The job over the next 12 months is to boot the Tories out of power and remove the SNP’s last remaining excuse for failing Scotland.”

The labour leader appealed to anyone who wanted to see change to back his party.

He said: “We may ultimately disagree on the final destination for Scotland. 

“But on this part of the journey, let's unite to change our country and get rid of this Tory government. 

“Give us the opportunity to show you that we can make the UK work for every corner of our country, including here in Scotland.”