Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has been on the receiving end of a brutal and insulting briefing from within his own power base. Here our Writer at Large looks at what this means for the man, the party and the state of Scottish politics

It seems a bit much to call Anas Sarwar a ‘f**kwit’, especially with the Alba Party still technically on the scene in Scotland, and Reform promising ICE-style mass round-ups. But that’s the kind of chat about Sarwar doing the rounds in his own constituency party in Glasgow’s Southside.

The comment appeared in the National in a piece about infighting within Sarwar’s home turf.

It seems, we’re told, that “a takeover” was launched of the Glasgow Southside constituency Labour Party (CLP) to which Sarwar belongs. It was reported that the UK health minister Zubir Ahmed – who’s in the same CLP – sidelined Sarwar to cement his own power base. Ahmed is said to have used local councillor Hanif Raja to help remove Suzan King as the party’s local government committee chair for Glasgow. That position gave her influence over a major Labour heartland, as well as council candidate selection and party discipline.

The move is said to strengthen Ahmed’s grip. Shaukat Sultan has replaced King in her other role as CLP chair. Seemingly, the chaos means the branch is now in breach of Labour rules. Half of the six-member executive team should be women, there are now only four members and only one is a woman.

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