Sarwar 'proud' of work with Starmer despite resignation call

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar says he is "proud" of his work with Sir Keir Starmer after the prime minister announced he would resign.

Sarwar was the first major Labour figure to call for Starmer to quit, arguing in February that "too many mistakes" had been made by the UK government.

Newly elected MP Andy Burnham is in pole position to succeed the prime minister after winning the Makerfield by-election.

Responding to Starmer's announcement, Sarwar praised him while saying he had made "missteps".

Sarwar told BBC Scotland News: "I will always be proud that together. We got rid of the Tories after 14 years of misrule, that a Labour government helped end austerity, lifted half a million children out of poverty and secured shipbuilding on the Clyde for a generation.

"That's something that no-one can take away from Keir Starmer, that's a legacy he can be proud of."

He added: "Were there missteps? Yes, but I think Keir Starmer is always trying to act in what he thought was the best interest of the country."

Sarwar called for the party to "move very quickly to focusing on the issues they were elected to do - and that's delivering for the great people of this country".

He refused to back any potential leadership candidates, saying he would wait to see their proposals.

Sarwar had called for the prime minister to resign in the run up to the Holyrood election, aiming to distance Scottish Labour from the unpopular Westminster administration.

However, cabinet ministers rallied around Starmer at the time and Scottish Labour subsequently endured a poor Holyrood election result.

Sarwar refused to be drawn on whether he believed that his party's performance would have been better if the prime minister had stepped down earlier.

Sarwar repeatedly butted heads with Downing Street following Labour's landslide general election victory - including disagreements over winter fuel payments for pensioners, Starmer's comments about Israel and the two-child benefits cap.

The prime minister confirmed he would remain in office until Labour chooses a new leader, which he said would happen by the time parliament returns from recess in September.

The appointment could happen sooner if the party gets behind one candidate without the need for a contest.

Shortly after Starmer's statement, Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander backed Burnham to succeed him.

He told BBC Radio 4's World at One that Burnham was a proven winner and "one of the most experienced political leaders in Britain today".

Alexander refused to confirm whether he had asked Starmer to step down.

First Minister John Swinney said Starmer had made the correct decision.

"It was past time for him to face reality and the fact he now has allows some hope that things can change," he said.

"However, rather than simply a change of personnel, what is needed is a fundamental change of direction. Labour's time in power has been characterised by broken promises, poor judgement and, ultimately, failure."

Swinney said a "fresh start" was possible for Scotland, "but only with independence".

Scottish Green co-leader Gillian Mackay argued there was no reason to believe that Burnham would fare any better as prime minister.

She said: "The problem isn't the person behind the wheel. It is a party that once worked to serve the interests of working people but now serves only the interests of billionaires and their corporate donors."

Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay said Starmer would be "remembered as the prime minister of U-turns and broken promises".