9 hours ago
Can Keir Starmer do anything that Anas Sarwar won't support?
When the quite literally loyal-to-a-fault Tory minister Nadine Dorries was asked that question about her prime minister Boris Johnson in 2022, she said: 'If he went out and kicked a dog, I would probably withdraw my support for him.'
Dorries was known as one of Johnson's most fierce allies, defending him even after his ignominious downfall finally played out following an exodus of ministers from his UK government.
In Sarwar, it seems Starmer has found a similar ally – right down to the photos which beg the question: 'Are they really looking at him like that?'
Nadine Dorries looks at Boris Johnson (left), and Anas Sarwar and Keir Starmer pose for pictures at the 2024 Labour conference (Image: PA) But the extreme loyalty shown to Starmer by his Scottish deputy is becoming more and more of a rarity within the Labour Party.
Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham – who Sarwar often cites as an example to be followed – London mayor Sadiq Khan, Treasury committee chair Meg Hillier, Scottish Affairs committee chair Patricia Ferguson, former transport secretary Louise Haigh. This is far from an exhaustive list of the senior Labour figures who have spoken against Starmer's plans to cut £5bn from disability benefits.
Sarwar's name is predictably absent.
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While the Scottish Labour group leader shamelessly toes whatever line Starmer cares to draw, a direct comparison to the Scottish Welsh leader shows just how obsequious he is.
Eluned Morgan, now the First Minister of Wales – a mirror of the role Sarwar so covets, has been far from a poodle on Downing Street's lead. In fact, the Welsh leader has made a virtue of putting 'clear red water' between herself and Starmer.
While Sarwar described the stunningly unpopular cuts to the Winter Fuel Payment as an 'opportunity' for Scotland, Morgan called for a UK Government 'rethink'.
Welsh First Minister Eluned MorganWhere Sarwar has U-turned on his opposition to the Tories' devolution-busting Internal Market Act, Morgan has openly called for more devolved powers – specifically around the Crown Estate.
'We saw them take our coal, we saw them take our water. We will not let them take our wind, not this time, not on my watch," she said last month. Can you imagine those words from Sarwar's mouth?
And where Sarwar has backed the planned £5 billion disability cuts to the hilt – on Wednesday proudly declaring himself "consistent" on the issue – Morgan has joined the ranks of senior Labour figures to oppose them.
But then, Morgan already has a life seat in the House of Lords – and the fancy title that comes with it. The not-yet-baron Sarwar surely doesn't want to jeopardise his chances of joining those ermine-robed crowds.
But, ironically, if Sarwar fails to be his own person, of speak with from his own convictions, then he will have failed to earn any such accolade.
