Scottish Labour leader who called for Sir Keir to go will ‘become minister under Burnham’

| Night News Editor Published July 21, 2026 8:36pm Updated July 21, 2026 8:36pm Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar is expected to stand down (Picture: Getty) The Scottish Labour leader is expected to make the big move South to become a minister in Andy Burnham’s Government. Anas Sarwar will quit his position to be elevated to the Lords to take up a ministerial post at the revamped Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, headed by Jonathan Reynolds, according the Scottish Sun. The Scottish Labour leader called for Sir Keir Starmer to step down as prime minister in February. He hailed successor Mr Burnham for his ‘bold Labour vision’ as he entered No 10 this week. But the SNP said it would be a ‘terrible look’ to appoint Mr Sarwar. The party’s deputy leader Keith Brown MSP said: ‘This is a terrible look for Andy Burnham who waxed lyrical about a new politics and devolving power – he’s just pulled the most undemocratic trick in the Westminster book. Make sense of the mad world of British politics Get analysis of the latest stories – including Andy Burnham's rise to Number 10 – direct to your inbox from Metro’s Senior Politics Reporter Craig Munro. Sign up here. ‘Anas Sarwar led Scottish Labour to their worst ever election defeat, but as is always the case with the Labour Party, there’s always a cushty number in the House of Lords.’ Britain’s new Prime Minister Andy Burnham and his wife Marie-France van Heel wave as they arrive at 10 Downing Street(Picture AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) Former Greater Manchester mayor Mr Burnham appointed his Cabinet on Monday after taking office, but a raft of ministerial appointments are still to come. Mr Sarwar has been Scottish Labour leader since 2021. He said he planned to stay in his post after Sir Keir’s resignation in June. Asked if he planned to serve for the five-year Holyrood term as party leader, Mr Sarwar said: ‘That is my intention. ‘I’m hungry for the fight ahead and I want to play my full part in making sure this country never ends up in the hands of Nigel Farage and Reform.’ Andy Burnham still has some ministerial posts to figure out. But his first conversation with Donald Trump was ‘extremely warm’, Downing Street has said after the US president shared an upbeat assessment of their call. The president, a vocal supporter of fossil fuels, insisted further drilling in the North Sea would ‘make the United Kingdom, from a Poverty Stricken Disaster, to one of the Richest Countries anywhere in the World’. In his Truth Social post, Mr Trump said the two discussed North Sea oil, trade, and demining of the Strait of Hormuz. Arrow MORE: How could anyone begrudge Keir Starmer a post-sacking pint? Arrow MORE: Who is Marie-France van Heel? A look inside new PM Andy Burnham’s family life Arrow MORE: A UK airline is about to be Europe’s first to fly electric planes Alright Gov Straight-talking analysis from Westminster, straight to your inbox.