The Scottish Labour leader cannot avoid the influence of Westminster on the Scottish elections, writes TERRY MURDEN
After calling for the Prime Minister to resign, Anas Sarwar declared that the Scottish election was about Scotland and that he was quite capable of looking after the shop without the distraction of his party’s turmoil south of the border. Unfortunately, he can’t avoid the fact that many of the issues concerning voters are those affecting Scotland, but decided by Westminster.
Sarwar has busied himself pledging to cut A&E waiting queues, hire more crime prevention offices, build more houses and invest in the transport network, all areas under the control of the devolved government.
However, the hike in National Insurance Contributions, the energy profits levy, the obsession with net zero and opposition to new oilfield exploration licences, are just some of the policy areas which are bothering, not just businesses, but those who are impacted by the higher cost of doing business. Not least because it’s Labour’s “working people” who take the brunt of these decisions.
These policies are persistent reminders of a Labour government that has made life more expensive and difficult for Scots as much as anyone else in the UK and it should be no surprise that these factors are playing a big part in voting intentions. Add the failure to save the Grangemouth oil refinery, as promised, and compensate the Waspi campaigners, as promised, and there is little wonder that Labour is getting a good kicking.
If Sarwar wanted to show that he was his own man, and add further explanation for his decision to call for Sir Keir Starmer to go, he would be calling for a reversal of policy in these areas. Yet, apart from the odd mild reference, they have been conspicuously absent from his campaign. He speaks constantly about the need for change, yet turns a blind eye to the most obvious policies that are causing problems in the economy.
This will only reinforce the view among his opponents that Scottish Labour is a branch office; that for all his declarations of independent decision making, he’s really obliged to fall into line with Westminster diktat.
Sadly, for Sarwar, he now has to stick to unpopular Westminster decisions while Cabinet ministers have shown whose side they are on.
On stage in Paisley as he delivered his conference speech, he wore the look of a disowned puppy. No Keir beside him for the big photo opportunity. No other big hitters parading around the Town Hall to offer their support.
Sarwar delivered a thundering speech to the loyalists in the room, but the sound and fury is with the voters who seem to be following his example and disowning him.
Terry Murden was Scotland Editor and Business Editor at The Sunday Times, Business Editor at The Scotsman, and Business and City Editor at Scotland on Sunday. He is now Editor of Daily Business
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