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Anas Sarwar Targets Downing Street to Save Holyrood Campaign- Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has triggered a political earthquake by publicly calling for Prime Minister Keir Starmer to resign. This unprecedented move marks a total breakdown in the relationship between the party's UK and Scottish leadership. Sarwar cites a "continuous cycle of mistakes" in Downing Street, specifically the fallout from the Peter Mandelson ambassadorial appointment and the resulting resignations of key aides Morgan McSweeney and Tim Allan. The decision is a calculated attempt to distance the Scottish party from an unpopular Prime Minister just 12 weeks before the May 2026 Holyrood elections, Daily Dazzling and realized.
Foysol Choudhury Suspension and Deselection Controversy- The internal crisis is compounded by the ongoing deadlock surrounding Foysol Choudhury, the first Scottish Bangladeshi MSP. Choudhury remains suspended from the party following allegations of bullying and inappropriate conduct. While initial media reports suggested sexual misconduct, the Labour Governance and Legal Unit later clarified the investigation focuses on bullying. Despite no formal complaint being finalized after months of "administrative suspension," the party has moved to de-select Choudhury for his Edinburgh Northern seat. Local activists and anti-racism campaigners have condemned the move, alleging a lack of due process and racial bias.
Colin Smyth Criminal Charges Shadow Party Image-Adding to the party's disciplinary woes is the case of South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth. Smyth has been charged with voyeurism and the possession of indecent images of children. He appeared at Dumfries Sheriff Court in late 2025 and remains on bail as the legal process continues. Having been administratively suspended and stripped of the party whip, Smyth now sits as an independent. The presence of two high-profile MSPs in the "independent" benches due to conduct investigations has provided significant ammunition for political opponents who claim Scottish Labour is in administrative collapse.
Reform UK Overtakes Labour in Holyrood Polling-The driving force behind Sarwar's "nuclear option" against Starmer is a catastrophic shift in polling data. February 2026 figures show Nigel Farage’s Reform UK has surged into second place in Scotland with 22% of the vote, pushing Labour into a distant third at 15%. Internal Labour strategists fear that the "Starmer brand" has become a liability that is actively driving voters toward Reform. By demanding the Prime Minister’s exit, Sarwar hopes to present himself as a leader who puts Scottish interests above party loyalty, aiming to win back disaffected working-class voters.
The High-Stakes Battle for Holyrood’s Future-The immediate future for Scottish Labour hinges on whether Sarwar’s gamble can stabilize the party’s free-falling poll numbers. If the resignation call fails to trigger a wider UK leadership change, Sarwar risks total isolation within his own party. Meanwhile, the unresolved status of Foysol Choudhury threatens to alienate minority communities and local members in Edinburgh. With only three months until the election, Sarwar’s attempt to "liberate" the Scottish party must now survive both a hostile Downing Street and the shadow of ongoing MSP scandals.
