Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar to join Burnham cabinet

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar is expected to resign from his post and the Scottish Parliament to accept a ministerial position in Prime Minister Andy Burnham's government, according to widespread reports on Tuesday, July 21, 2026. The move would see Sarwar elevated to the House of Lords to serve as a minister in the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade.

Official confirmation of the appointment is anticipated imminently. Sarwar, who has led Scottish Labour since 2021, publicly called for former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to resign in February, a move that reportedly provoked a political crisis for Starmer. Following Starmer's resignation in June, Sarwar had stated his intention to remain as Scottish Labour leader for the full five-year Holyrood term, saying he was "hungry for the fight ahead" against Nigel Farage's Reform party.

The decision comes just months after Scottish Labour suffered its worst-ever election defeat in May, securing only 17 out of 129 seats in the Scottish Parliament. At that time, Sarwar pledged to stay on as leader. His departure will create a leadership vacancy within the party. Because he was elected via the regional list...