Harlepool by-election ‘really challenging’ for Labour, says Sarwar

The Hartlepool by-election will be "really, really challenging" for Labour, the party's Scottish leader Anas Sarwar has said.

Mr Sarwar said both he and Sir Keir Starmer are working to build Labour as a "credible alternative".

He spoke to journalists after attending a drive-in rally in Glasgow with former prime minister gordon brown, ahead of polling day in the Scottish Parliament election today.

He was asked about upcoming Westminster by-elections in Hartlepool - a seat which Labour held in 2019 - and Airdrie and Shotts, where voters will choose a new MP next week.

Mrs ar war said :" hartlepool is a really, really challenging seat.

"I don' t think we can escape the fact that there was a huge Brexit Party vote in the last election, that poses its own challenge."

One recent opinion poll suggestedthe tories have a double digit lead over labour in hartlepool, which has been won by Labour since the seat was created in 1974.

Mrs ar war, who became scottish Labour leader in February, said the election campaign in Scotland had given him the chance to present himself in a more "energetic and forceful way", while a Uk-wide general election is likely to be a number of years away.

He said: "Keir, like every leader, has not been able to do large events and he's not even had an opportunity to shake a single hand since he's been a leader due to the pandemic.

"I hope we get a good result in Hartlepool.

"Buthowwerebuildthecountry-werebuildthecountrywith humility, with honesty, with authenticity, with energy to demonstrate we are building a credible alternative.”