Part of a political dynasty – but Sarwar could find stance on Corbyn costly

Profile Anas Sarwar

Anas Sarwar became a list MSP for Glasgow last year, having previously been MP for Glasgowcentralbetween2010 and 2015. That seat had been held by his father Mohammed Sarwar, who in 1997 became the first Muslim MP in Britain, and the first Asian parliamentarian from Scotland.

He attended independent Hutcheson’s Grammar School in Glasgow, before studying dentistry at the University of Glasgow.

Mr Sarwar’s stake in the family wholesale business has been reported to be worth several million pounds.

Long tipped as a future leadership prospect, Mr Sarwar has previously been deputy and acting leader of Scottish Labour.

However, his

former Friends and critics have rushed to offer their take on Kezia Dugdale’s surprising resignation of the Scottish Labour leadership, with many questioning the timing of her departure.

Senior Labour figures who supported Ms Dugdale’s leadership against criticism from the left of the party have criticised her decision to quit as “selfish”, it has been claimed.

Allies of the former leader told a Sunday newspaper that her resignation had destablised the party and risked a divisive battle to succeed her.

According to reports over the weekend, her backers within Scottish Labour believe Ms Dugdale “couldn’t be arsed anymore” and “put her own needs first” following a series of bruising election campaigns and a year of personal setbacks and tragedies.

In her resignation letter, Ms Dugdale cited the death of former Labour researcher and motor neurone disease campaigner Gordon Aikman – a close friend – as a key factor in her decision, saying it taught her to “never to waste a moment” and value the important things in life.

Speculation has also focused on the Lothians MSP’S relationship with an SNP parliamentarian, Jenny Gilruth, and negative reactions behind the scenes within Labour.

Amid a flurry of anonymous briefings both supporting and attacking Ms Dugdale, another senior Labour source was quoted as saying: “There are more snakes in Scottish Labour than in an Indiana Jones film.” opposition to Jeremy Corbyn could cost him support. Pitching to Labour supporters, Mr Sarwar highlighted the party’s “radical policy platform that stands in stark contrast to the SNP”.

He said: “I have championed dedicated NHS workers, who are overworked and undervalued. The next Labour government in Scotland must fix the crisis in our health service.

“We will tackle the crisis in our schools, end the slashand-burn approach to local government and build an economy rooted in fairness that equips our workforce for the challenges ahead.”