Douglas Alexander has been told to choose between staying in Keir Starmer’s cabinet and running Scottish Labour’s Holyrood election campaign – because he can no longer do both.
The Scottish Conservatives have written to the Scottish secretary following Anas Sarwar’s call for Starmer to resign as Prime Minister. That call was supported by Jackie Baillie, the other co-chair of Scottish Labour’s campaign.
However, Alexander reaffirmed his support for Starmer shortly after Sarwar’s press conference.
Scottish Conservative deputy leader Rachael Hamilton said the idea that Alexander can continue to run Sarwar’s campaign and serve in Starmer’s cabinet “is for the birds”.
She added that voters are sick of the “Labour psychodrama” at a time when they are struggling with rising bills, and that only the Scottish Conservatives are standing up to John Swinney’s SNP government.
Scottish Conservative deputy leader Rachael Hamilton MSP said: “Scandal-ridden Labour are in a state of total chaos following Anas Sarwar’s call for Keir Starmer to resign.
“With less than three months to go until polling day at Holyrood, Douglas Alexander must choose whether he wants to remain in Keir Starmer’s cabinet or run Scottish Labour’s election campaign – because he can’t credibly do both.
“If he’s backing Starmer to remain as Prime Minister, he is completely at odds with Sarwar and his fellow campaign co-chair Jackie Baillie and must relinquish this role.
“The idea that he can stand alongside Sarwar, who wants Starmer to go, and remain in the PM’s cabinet is for the birds. It’s ludicrous, contradictory and unsustainable.
“Sarwar has forced Scottish Labour MPs and MSPs to pick a side and it’s no different for Alexander.
“Voters are sick of the Labour psychodrama at a time when they are struggling with rising bills and paying more but getting less in return.
“While Labour fight among themselves, the Scottish Conservatives will continue to stand up to John Swinney’s SNP government which must be booted out of office in May.
“That is the only way we can move on from the Nationalists’ independence obsession and get all the focus onto growing Scotland’s economy.”