Anas Sarwar: I can’t afford an “unpopular” Labour government

Anas Sarwar is increasingly tipped to become Scotland ’s next first minister.

The 40-year-old Labour leader is obsessed with growing the economy.

He will publish a paper setting out some of the economic policies he intends to pursue.

Much of it might be described as “ Burnhamism” Sarwar and his team have spent time with the Greater Manchester mayor.

Few would have given Sarwar much chance of becoming first minister in 2026 .

He attends Holyrood for only two days each week and spends the rest of his time lapping Scotland .

The past year has seen an extraordinary recovery in Scottish Labour’s fortunes.

Before Sarwar, Scottish Labour drifted through a succession of leaders, all of whom struggled to boost its fortunes.

Polls show that as Holyrood enters its 25th year , a rising number of voters have grown disappointed with the parliament’s performance, sometimes wondering what the point of devolution even is.

The recent arrival of the Covid Inquiry in Edinburgh and the damage it caused to the reputations of senior SNP figures has, Sarwar thinks, only heightened the need for change.