Daily Record Political Editor Paul Hutcheon says the Prime Minister’s resignation is inevitable and UK Cabinet colleagues will catch up with the Scottish Labour leader.
Viewed from Westminster, Anas Sarwar tried to take out the Prime Minister on Monday and failed miserably. The PM marshalled his Cabinet troops and made Sarwar’s call for him to quit look hollow.
The fact that so few Scottish Labour MPs have followed Sarwar into the trenches is another insult for the Glasgow MSP. He should have had senior colleagues at Westminster ready to back him once he went over the top.
But Scotland has its own political culture and the impact of Sarwar’s intervention may be felt differently on the doorsteps. The reason why the SNP continue to win elections is they possess the most effective tune to play to voters.
They are seen as the party that puts Scotland first and stands up to Westminster, which is associated with sleaze and chaos. Scottish Labour, derided by the SNP as a “branch office”, are an organisation that is viewed as putting their UK sister party first.
READ MORE: Scottish Labour MSP suspended over ties to serial paedophile Sean MortonREAD MORE: Keir Starmer spin doctor who backed Scots paedophile suspended by Labour
Monday’s events, while bruising for Sarwar, could be the first step towards tipping the chess board for Labour north of the border.
For the last nineteen months, Sarwar has bit his tongue when asked about the failings of the Starmer Government.
Scots could see him squirm on TV and hear the carefully phrased statements on policies he did not agree with.
By publicly calling out the Prime Minister and demanding his resignation, Sarwar has repositioned his party.
He no longer has to apologise for the sins of the UK Government or pull his punches to maintain a relationship with the Prime Minister.
Sarwar is now free to criticise both Governments without fear or favour and voters will notice the shift.
The short-term will be rough for him.
He will have to endure the indignity of being criticised by the UK media and mocked by political opponents who will claim he is powerless.
But the fundamentals remain the same and it is likely Starmer’s MPs and Cabinet colleagues will gradually catch up with Sarwar.
The PM has the worst poll ratings of any occupant of Downing Street in decades.
His Government is about to go through the anguish of releasing files on the appointment of paedophile Jeffrey Epstein’s friend Peter Mandelson.
Labour is set for a drubbing in the Gorton and Denton by-election this month, an outcome that will result in the sharks circling around Starmer again.
Starmer’s colleagues know he will not lead Labour into the next general election.
Scots have made up their minds on Starmer and the Scottish Labour leader has put himself on their side.

