Sarwar accepts Burnham government post after backing Starmer’s exit
Developed over time first seen 3 months ago
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, who was among the first senior party figures to publicly call for Sir Keir Starmer to resign, has taken up a role in the new Government being formed by Andy Burnham following Starmer's exit as prime minister. The move underscores how quickly Labour's internal politics have shifted since the change of leadership, with a figure who campaigned openly against Starmer now being drawn into his successor's administration, prompting questions about loyalty, reward and consistency within the party.
Sarwar's appointment comes amid a broader and often chaotic transition: Burnham has already dropped a pledge to end the freeze on tax thresholds while committing £450 million to cap bus fares at £2, drawing accusations of uncosted promises and provoking the first signs of rebellion from a Starmer loyalist he sacked. Meanwhile, Starmer has been pictured at a pub with Rachel Reeves as aides marked his departure wearing "Sparkle with Starmer" T-shirts, and Burnham has set up a "No10 North" office in Manchester, insisting it is "not a gimmick" even though a permanent northern base for government is not due to open until 2032.
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In short
- Sarwar, an early Starmer critic, joins Burnham's new Government.
- Burnham scraps tax threshold pledge but pledges £450m for £2 bus fares.
- Transition marked by "No10 North" office and a sacked Starmerite's mutiny.
How this story developed
- 3 months ago The Rayner row escalated into explicit Tory demands that she hand back a £17,000 payoff after returning to her old post within ten months, while Burnham doubled down by telling his Cabinet all policies must be shown to be funded, a demand undercut by his own uncosted energy bills pledge, as Sarwar's role and the wider transition theatrics continued.
- 3 months ago Attention shifted to signs of strain inside Burnham's fledgling administration, as he abandoned a promised end to the tax threshold freeze while pledging £450 million for £2 bus fares, triggering accusations of uncosted spending and an early revolt from a Starmer ally he had sacked, even as Sarwar's appointment was confirmed rather than merely rumoured.
- 3 months ago Reports emerged that Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, one of the earliest senior figures to demand Sir Keir Starmer's resignation, is set to join the new Government being assembled by Andy Burnham, amid scenes of Starmer's send-off and Burnham's insistence that his Manchester "No10 North" office is no gimmick, plus fresh scrutiny over Angela Rayner's swift Cabinet return and an unfunded £850 million energy package.
Where outlets differ
Left-leaning outlets 1
Only here: scottish, labour, leader, anas, given
Right-leaning outlets 1
Only here: accepts, post, backing, starmer, exit
Every side used: sarwar, burnham, government
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The case for
Supporters would argue that Sarwar's actions have been consistent rather than opportunistic: he called for change because he believed Labour needed a fresh direction to succeed, and now that a new leadership has emerged, serving in it is simply following through on that conviction rather than abandoning it. Taking a role under Burnham allows him to help shape the policies he originally campaigned for, and declining to serve out of concern for appearances would arguably put optics ahead of the chance to influence government from within. Experienced, capable figures moving into new administrations is also a normal feature of political transitions, not evidence of self-interest.
The case against
Critics would contend that there is something uncomfortable about one of the first people to publicly demand a leader's departure then swiftly accepting a prominent position in the government that followed, since it can look less like principle and more like positioning for advantage. They would say it feeds public cynicism about politicians talking of party unity or loyalty while manoeuvring for personal advancement, and that voters are entitled to ask whether Sarwar's earlier criticism of Starmer was genuinely about the country's interests or about clearing a path for his own career. Even if the appointment is well-earned, the timing invites scrutiny that a more cautious approach might have avoided.
Explained simply
Anas Sarwar is the leader of Scottish Labour, a separate but linked role to the UK Labour Party led until recently by Sir Keir Starmer. Sarwar was one of the first senior Labour figures to call publicly for Starmer to stand down as prime minister, a stance that put him at odds with the party leadership at the time. Starmer has since left office and been succeeded by Andy Burnham, previously the mayor of Greater Manchester, who is now forming a new government.
Sarwar has now taken on a role within Burnham's government, despite his earlier opposition to Starmer. Labour is a broad party that contains different factions and personal rivalries, and the makeup of any new government is often watched closely for what it reveals about who is being rewarded, sidelined or brought back into the fold after a leadership change.
This matters because it offers an early signal of how Burnham intends to run his government and manage the party after a turbulent transition. It also raises broader questions about consistency in politics, namely whether backing a leader's removal should affect someone's prospects under the new leadership, and about how unified or divided Labour remains behind the scenes.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “He was one of the first to call for Sir Keir Starmer to go… now Anas Sarwar jumps ship for role in Andy Burnham’s new Government”.