Anas Sarwar
Scottish Labour · Scotland
“Before I begin, I join others in condemning the appalling anti-Muslim attack in Edinburgh. No Scot should live in fear and every Scot should live in safety. Our thoughts are with those who were injured and with the wider Muslim community. I put on record my thanks to all the emergency services that responded so quickly and effectively.”
“It says that the “sector faces significant challenges”, that the Government “lacks a clear plan”, that reforms have “not been adequately resourced” and that there is a risk that it “will not achieve the intended outcomes.” In 2022, Audit Scotland concluded that the Scottish National Party Government had “not provided the necessary leaders…”
“Seven months after a national review into maternity services was committed to, Professor Christine McCourt has finally been appointed as its chair. Although that is welcome, more urgency is needed. Earlier this month, Healthcare Improvement Scotland published its report into the Queen Elizabeth university hospital.”
“I put on the record my thanks, and the thanks of the Scottish Labour Party, for the work done by Dorothy Bain KC as Lord Advocate over the past five years. Dorothy Bain is a highly regarded professional who has given dedicated service to her country and her profession, and we thank her for that service.”
“The law must serve the public; it must not serve the convenience of institutions, the comfort of ministers or the interests of those who are already in positions of power.”
“Ruth Charteris is someone whom I like, respect and hold in high regard, as I do her predecessor, and I have no doubt that she will do the job to the best of her ability and to the standard that the people in this country expect.”
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“It says that the “sector faces significant challenges”, that the Government “lacks a clear plan”, that reforms have “not been adequately resourced” and that there is a risk that it “will not achieve the intended outcomes.” In 2022, Audit Scotland concluded that the Scottish National Party Government had “not provided the necessary leadership” on skills reform. Four years on, not much has changed. That has consequences because, every year that passes, more pupils leave school without the opportunities that they deserve. Does John Swinney accept the findings of the new report and can he say how many more cohorts of young people will be let down before the Government finally gets its act together?”
“Before I begin, I join others in condemning the appalling anti-Muslim attack in Edinburgh. No Scot should live in fear and every Scot should live in safety. Our thoughts are with those who were injured and with the wider Muslim community. I put on record my thanks to all the emergency services that responded so quickly and effectively. We should say loudly and clearly from this Parliament and across the country that an attack on one—whether it is one individual or one community—is an attack on all of us and that hate has no place in our Scotland. [Applause.] This week is armed forces week. I thank all those who have served, and continue to serve, to keep our great country safe. Today, Audit Scotland published a damning report on the Government’s progress with the reform of post-school education and skills.”
“What immediate steps is John Swinney’s Government taking to keep women and babies safe?”
“Seven months after a national review into maternity services was committed to, Professor Christine McCourt has finally been appointed as its chair. Although that is welcome, more urgency is needed. Earlier this month, Healthcare Improvement Scotland published its report into the Queen Elizabeth university hospital. It found that expectant mothers had faced delays of up to 190 hours before being induced and that the consequences were serious. Delays increased the risk of sepsis, led to more complicated births and, in some cases, resulted in women giving birth in areas not equipped to deal with complications or provide appropriate pain relief. Between 2019 and 2025, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde alone recorded 736 serious adverse events in maternity and neonatal services. Tragically, 406 of those involved a death.”
“I thank them for the service that they have already given to our country, which I am sure they will continue to give in the coming years. 17:25”
“The law must serve the public; it must not serve the convenience of institutions, the comfort of ministers or the interests of those who are already in positions of power. That is what the country expects from its new Lord Advocate and Solicitor General, and I am sure that Ruth Charteris KC and BJ Gill KC will do to their utmost to fulfil those roles. Today, Scottish Labour supports the appointments that have been put before the Parliament, but we call again for a serious debate, a plan and a timeline for reforming the role of the Lord Advocate. That should be a serious, constructive debate that is rooted in the public interest. I take the opportunity again to congratulate both Ruth Charteris KC and BJ Gill KC, and I look forward to engaging with them positively.”
“In only the past few years, we have seen the need for the people of Scotland to have a clear voice to challenge and engage with the machinery of the justice system, whether it be in relation to the Emma Caldwell case, the Sheku Bayoh case, the scandal at the Queen Elizabeth university hospital, the infected blood scandal, the Post Office Horizon scandal or the ongoing Scottish Covid inquiry. Behind each of those cases are people, families and communities who have had to fight for answers, and all those issues and more demand the highest quality of legal advice at the heart of Government and a serious understanding of the duty underpinning the law that must serve the people of this country.”
“Similarly, BJ Gill KC, who is one of Scotland’s most senior advocates, and who has acted in cases on important legislation such as that on the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union, will bring a great amount of knowledge and insight to the role of Solicitor General. Both Ruth Charteris KC and BJ Gill KC are highly respected and commended legal professionals, and I am sure that they will do all that they can to serve the Government and, by extension, the people of this great country. As this new Parliament continues to find its feet following the election, few MSPs would not agree that the need for senior law officers who are committed to the highest standards of public service is clear.”
“Ruth Charteris is someone whom I like, respect and hold in high regard, as I do her predecessor, and I have no doubt that she will do the job to the best of her ability and to the standard that the people in this country expect. Today’s choice is about deciding who is best placed to occupy an office that remains flawed but central to the rule of law in Scotland. As she has been Solicitor General since 2021, and given her an illustrious career as an advocate and a KC, it is clear that Ruth Charteris is more than qualified for the important role that she is now set to occupy. As she is a highly respected legal professional, I am sure that Ruth Charteris KC will bring her extensive and well-honed experience to the role of Lord Advocate.”
“Those are legitimate questions on issues of conflict and compromise, but none—and I stress none— questioned the ability, character or integrity of the individual. However, those are legitimate questions for this Parliament and for the Government, and the Scottish National Party Government’s refusal to properly face up to those questions has left the Parliament dealing with a role that still requires reform. I emphasise that, in some ways, the failure to address that issue itself is unfair on the occupant of the office of Lord Advocate. Let me stress again that this debate is not about the ability or character of Ruth Charteris or anyone who has held that office before her.”
“I put on the record my thanks, and the thanks of the Scottish Labour Party, for the work done by Dorothy Bain KC as Lord Advocate over the past five years. Dorothy Bain is a highly regarded professional who has given dedicated service to her country and her profession, and we thank her for that service. The office of Lord Advocate is one of the most serious and sensitive roles in public life. It requires independence, judgment and a clear sense of public duty. During Dorothy Bain’s tenure, there have been major challenges and changes, including several First Ministers, high-profile police investigations and a change of monarch, all of which situations have required Ms Bain’s expertise. In that time, serious political questions around the dual role of the Lord Advocate and their duties, remit and responsibilities have emerged.”
“Those who are being intimidated on our streets or in our places of worship—whether that is a mosque, a synagogue or any other faith centre—must hear loudly and clearly from us all that this is not who we are, that those who seek to divide us do not speak for us and that Scotland belongs to us all. As we face the rising challenge of disillusionment with and mistrust of our politics and our institutions, does the First Minister agree that rebuilding and restoring such trust is the responsibility of all us who want the politics of hatred to be defeated?”
“I apologise, Presiding Officer—you caught me off guard by starting 30 seconds early. I start by wishing the Scotland team and the tartan army the best of luck as the world cup kicks off later today. [Applause.] I am sure that the one thing that unites all of us in the chamber is our support for Steve Clarke and the Scotland team. Speaking of unity, like many people, I was horrified and angered by the knife attack in Belfast. Justice must be done and lessons must be learned, but there is never any justification for such horror and anger to turn into violence, racism and disorder on our streets.”
“Joanna Cherry wrote: “Peter Murrell was not a criminal mastermind he just took advantage of a system devoid of adequate checks & balances and a culture where scrutiny and questioning were demonised. That culture has infected the Scottish government, our Parliament & our civic life. It needs to change.” Members might disagree with the latter point, but the issues merit investigation and answers. This is the greatest political scandal since devolution. It was a police investigation involving Scotland’s governing party, so the public understandably have questions and there must be answers. Given such high levels of disaffection with politics, this inquiry is about restoring trust in our institutions and in our politics.”
“However, there are other issues, processes, judgments, implications and lessons that are not a matter for the police but the job of this Parliament. To respond directly to the SNP amendment, I say that it is simply an attempt to muddy the waters. The inquiry is not about “rival political parties” inquiring into another party’s internal workings. The SNP can own the shame of the embezzlement of £400,000 of its own hard- working supporters’ money, but there are legitimate questions to be asked about a culture that goes beyond how a party internally operates and that affects how our Government and country are run. Let me quote the former SNP MP, Joanna Cherry. [Interruption.] Some SNP members are laughing at one of their former colleagues, who was bullied and intimidated out of her job.”
“Let me say clearly from the outset that the responsibility for Peter Murrell’s crimes lies with Peter Murrell, but the issues that are raised by his crimes go beyond Peter Murrell himself. Operation branchform goes to the heart of the culture of the political establishment in Scotland. These are serious issues that require a serious response, which is why it is beyond doubt that there must be a parliamentary inquiry. There has been some deliberate misinformation from the Scottish National Party, all in the hope that it can blag its way through this and that the story will move on—it will not. The inquiry is not intended to repeat operation branchform, and its role would not be to establish criminality, which is rightly the police’s job.”
“The choice before us in this debate is simple. Do we believe in honesty, openness, transparency and the rule of law? Is this a Parliament that believes that its job is to hold the Government and—no matter how uncomfortable or inconvenient it is—the institutions in this country to account? Alternatively, do members believe that their job is simply to use this Parliament to protect the very culture that enabled Peter Murrell to commit his crimes? The answer to this monumental scandal is not to continue the culture of secrecy and cover-up but to confront it. The answer is to shed light, ask questions and to meaningfully learn lessons. I say to the Scottish National Party that, if it has nothing to hide, it has nothing to fear.”
“His memory has gone, and not for the first time. The First Minister: Mr Sarwar is shouting and muttering at me. I will simply use one phrase to deal with him: employer national insurance contributions have been a disaster—[Interruption.] For all the years that the bawling Stephen Kerr’s party was in office, it never cut VAT on hospitality, so Conservative party members should not come to the chamber with unreasonable expectations.”
“Will the First Minister now apologise to all the members of the public whose hard-earned cash his party took on false pretences, and will he, unlike Nicola Sturgeon, fully co-operate with any new police investigation?”
“Yesterday, John Swinney and the Scottish National Party Government were held in contempt of court for failing to be open and transparent with the public. As that was happening, John Swinney finally admitted that the £600,000 that his party raised from members of the public explicitly to spend on a referendum campaign had been used for other expenses. A new police complaint is believed to have been lodged last night. A specific website was created and it was made explicit that people were donating to a ring-fenced independence campaign fund. The same promise was made in letters, social media posts and media interviews. To quote one example: “SNP: All the money raised on #ScotRef website is ringfenced to fight a future independence referendum”. That was clearly a lie.”
“Will John Swinney apologise to all those who have been the victims of that dangerous culture?”
“This week, Peter Murrell, the former chief executive officer of the Scottish National Party, pled guilty to embezzling more than £400,000 of supporters’ hard-earned cash. He will have to answer for his crimes, which will be a matter for the courts. However, questions remain about the deeper culture that allowed him to commit—and think that he could get away with—his crimes. It is a culture that has been a hallmark of not just how the SNP runs its party but how it governs the country. It is a culture of secrecy and cover-up, in which the public are not told the truth, dissenters are vilified and careers are destroyed; in which protecting the party and the people at its top is more important than the country; and in which there is a sick and twisted belief that the cause is bigger than anything else.”
“Yet, year after year, for the past 20 years, the SNP Government has taken power away from Scotland’s regions—it has centralised the power that he now says he wants to push back out to those regions.”
“This Government and First Minister have spent more time in the past 20 years telling Scotland what they cannot do than what they can do. Ultimately, the First Minister’s party plays on the very same fears and blame that I spoke about last week. There are those who want to create fear in our communities in order to divide us and there are those who want to pass the buck by pointing the finger of blame somewhere else instead of taking responsibility for their own actions in Government. Much of what John Swinney said in his opening statement is an attempt to correct a record that he has helped to build over the past 20 years. In those 20 years, the SNP has created layer after layer of bureaucracy and public sector bodies that he now says he wants to strip away.”
“One of the big challenges for our politics in Scotland is that, far too often, the instinct of the SNP Government and of the SNP as a party is to talk about Scotland as if it is one homogeneous unit with one mind and one view and not to talk as if there is a mix of views across the country. In reality, Scotland does not have one voice or one view on a referendum or on independence and there are differing views right across the country. If Mr Swinney truly wants to be a First Minister for all of Scotland, he cannot deny those varying views. I will say more about ambition in a moment, but to hear someone who has been in Government for 20 years pleading for some sort of fresh start is to hear something that people will not believe in.”
“I say first that although I welcome much of the content of the First Minister’s opening statement, the reality is that the contrast between that statement and the motion for debate is stark. The majority of the statement focused on issues that I think people would want the Scottish National Party Government to concentrate on, but the balance of the motion that we are being asked to vote on is overwhelmingly about one issue alone, which is the Scottish National Party First Minister’s only ambition and obsession: the issue of independence. That is a missed opportunity for the first debate of a new Parliament. I will make a broader point.”
“Although I will not win today’s vote, I will continue to argue for the kind of Scotland that I grew up in, and the kind of Scotland that I want my children to grow up in, too: one that is based on all of us, not on us versus them. Our duty—this goes for every single one of us— is to come to this Parliament to act, to serve and to deliver for the great people of Scotland. Let us get straight to work. The Presiding Officer: I call John Swinney. You have up to five minutes, Mr Swinney. 14:25”
“That also means taking responsibility, not always looking for someone else to blame, because the idea that someone else or somewhere else is to blame for our problems—the idea that somehow everything would be fine if it were not for “them over there”—is dangerous, too. I believe that our country is full of talent, compassion, ambition and decency. I am sure that this Parliament is also full of talent, compassion, ambition and decency. People out there all want the same basic things. They want our public services to work. They want opportunity to be shared. They want communities to be supported, and they want a Government to match the efforts that they make in their lives every single day.”
“We may come from different political sides, but that does not mean that we have to dislike or hate each another. We must confront the idea that if someone believes something different, sounds different or looks different, they somehow have to be feared. Of course, we should call out and take action on wrongdoing and, yes, we should have big debates and confront big issues, but we should not generalise, marginalise and demonise, because what might seem like just words to each of us in here are lived consequences for people out there. We must remain a nation that looks at its neighbour with compassion, not suspicion. That is the Scotland that we were when my grandfather arrived in Lossiemouth in the 1940s, and it is the Scotland that we must be today.”
“That should concern every single one of us because, if people lose faith not only in one party or one Government but in the ability of politics itself to improve their lives, that not only undermines our democracy but opens up opportunities for those who seek to divide us. Half the MSPs in the chamber have been elected to our Parliament for the first time. This is a historic opportunity for them—for all of us—to demonstrate either the best of Scotland or the worst of our politics; to change the culture positively or negatively; to achieve greater co- operation or greater conflict; and to trade in bigger ideas or bigger insults. I therefore say to members new and old, let us not miss the opportunity to do what is best and right for Scotland. That means confronting the politics of fear and blame, not inflaming it.”
“The need to tackle deep-seated issues in Scottish society remains as urgent today, and the Parliament must rise to that challenge. We need a Government that will focus relentlessly on the things that matter: growing our economy; supporting our high streets; driving down waiting lists; improving access to primary care; providing dignity in the delivery of social care; making life more affordable; giving every young person the chance to succeed; and supporting our communities to feel safer and stronger. In doing that, we must also recognise the mood in the country as it is, not as we might wish it to be. During the election campaign, one word came up again and again: “scunnered”. People are frustrated, angry and tired. They are tired of political arguments that seem disconnected from their lives.”
“Presiding Officer, I congratulate you on your election. I rise to make this speech in the knowledge that we already know the outcome of today’s vote. I congratulate John Swinney and the SNP on their election win on 7 May. My party fought the election on the belief that Scotland needs change. It was an election and an argument that we did not win. That is disappointing and I do not pretend otherwise, but it is important to convey what I still believe today. Our politics, our Parliament and our country need to change. We have a collective responsibility to represent and serve the people and, in the current climate, to bring our country together and take on the politics of fear and blame. Although the election result is settled, the challenges that Scotland faces are not.”
“Bi-smi llāhi r- rahmāni r-rahīm. I, Anas Sarwar, do swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles, his heirs and successors, according to law. So help me”
“Whenever I am in this place, I make a point of speaking to as many of the people who are responsible for the smooth running of the Parliament as I can. To those working in reception, security, maintenance and catering, and all their other colleagues, thank you for your immense efforts. Most of all, enjoy the six-week break from each and every one of us. My thanks again to you, Presiding Officer. I hope that you enjoy spending those extra hours with Alan and your daughter. When we all return after the election on 7 May, there will be lots of work to do, and I hope that we will do it by representing the very best of Scotland. 16:37”
“I am sure that both of us are relieved that we will no longer be sparring partners in the south side of Glasgow, as we have been for almost 30 years. I also pay tribute to her successor, Humza Yousaf, who led the way by becoming the first—I hope that he will not be the last—First Minister from an ethnic minority background. I am sure that both of them are looking forward to new challenges, but they must also be looking forward to being free of the personal burden that I know high office places on them as individuals and on their wider families. I am sure that their families are looking forward to having a lot more of their time and, of course, their headspace. My thanks go to the Parliament’s chief executive and all the parliamentary staff who have looked after us so well during the past five years.”
“My thanks go to all of them and to the many members from other parties who are stepping down. One third of MSPs are moving on. Although that means that there are too many to mention individually, I thank each and every one of them for their invaluable public service. Among the most notable departures are two former First Ministers; the current Deputy First Minister; other cabinet secretaries; and, of course, the former leader of the Conservatives, whom I know many people will look forward to continuing to encourage enthusiastically from the football stands. I pay tribute to my fellow Glasgow MSPs. In particular, I pay tribute to Nicola Sturgeon, who served as the Parliament’s first-ever female First Minister for almost a decade.”
“To those who are retiring, I say that every retired politician I meet always looks 10 years younger. I say a particular thank you to my colleagues Sarah Boyack, Rhoda Grant, Richard Leonard, Alex Rowley and Mercedes Villalba, who are stepping down from the Parliament. Each and every one of you has made a significant contribution to the Parliament and to public life in Scotland. You have represented the very best of the Scottish Labour Party and, more importantly, the very best of Scotland. One of our retirees, Rhoda Grant, is from the Parliament’s original intake in 1999. Sarah Boyack served in Donald Dewar’s first ever Cabinet. Alex Rowley is a former deputy leader of Scottish Labour, as well as a former general secretary. Richard Leonard was one of my predecessors as party leader from 2017 to 2021.”
“I will start by not only supporting the motion in the First Minister’s name but echoing all his comments. Presiding Officer, I thank you for your dedication over the past five years and for your dedication over 15 years to your constituents and to the great people of Scotland. To the Deputy Presiding Officers, I say thank you for how you have managed our sessions fairly and tried to manage each and every one of us fairly, particularly when we have attempted to misbehave. Annabelle Ewing, I wish you all the very best in your retirement. Liam McArthur, I wish you all the very best in the election. I also pay tribute to all MSPs, across the parties, who are either pursuing new challenges or planning to enjoy what I hope will be long and happy retirements.”
“After 20 years, more of the same will not cut it, will it?”
“The Parliament is supposed to be about the lived experiences of Scots. Five years ago, Scots elected a Scottish Government on a clear promise to make this a Covid recovery Parliament. Let us not forget that John Swinney was the Cabinet Secretary for Covid Recovery. But we did not get recovery, did we? Instead, the SNP Government lost its way and took Scotland backwards. On almost every measure, things are now worse than they were five years ago. Waiting times are worse, homelessness numbers are worse, crime is up, police officer numbers are down and educational attainment is poorer. In 2021, John Swinney was the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills and promised that we would have 3,500 extra teachers. Instead, we have 810 fewer teachers compared with 2021. John Swinney and the SNP have failed.”
“At the core of all that is the lie and the cover-up about what happened at the Queen Elizabeth university hospital. Had the Government told the truth and confronted the problems then, the mistakes would not have been repeated. Instead, that lie has cost the public purse millions and meant delayed and defective hospitals. Tragically, that lie has cost lives. Why was that lie more important to John Swinney than patient safety?”
“More than a decade ago, the Scottish National Party Government opened a hospital—[Interruption.] The Presiding Officer: Let us hear Mr Sarwar. Anas Sarwar: Children died at that hospital, so I suggest that members listen. More than a decade ago, the SNP Government opened a hospital in Glasgow that was not safe because of ventilation and water safety issues. Four years later, the opening of the sick kids hospital in Edinburgh was delayed because of ventilation and water issues. Now it has emerged that, in Aberdeen, the opening of the new Baird family hospital and the Aberdeen and north centre for haematology, oncology and radiotherapy—the ANCHOR centre—is being delayed again because of ventilation and water safety issues. Those are three hospitals in three cities that sum up the mess that the SNP has made of running our country.”
“It is what Scotland and all the people who work in this place deserve. That is why I respectfully ask that, after the publication of the report and hearing from the chamber on it today, we ensure that the issue is not left by the sidelines when, inevitably, we all get into campaign mode. I also request that the Presiding Officer and all other officials right across the Parliament do their utmost to ensure that whoever the successor as Presiding Officer is makes this an urgent priority for the next Parliament and ensures that we make significant progress at the earliest possible opportunity. That is a responsibility on each and every one of us. 09:39”
“It must, above all, be a place where people feel safe to do the work that is entrusted to us by the people of Scotland. However, there is another principle that must guide us all. Support for victims must come first. That is not an issue for one party alone. Painfully, there are lessons for all of us, right across the political spectrum. For our part, we must all continue to work to build a Parliament that defends the rights of all who work here and to create a working environment in which everyone feels safe and can thrive. My pledge is that my party will support the Parliament in putting its collective shortcomings right. Regardless of party or political belief, we must stand together to ensure that this Parliament is a safe place to work for every single person in it.”
“This deeply worrying report must be taken with the utmost seriousness. Its content demands not defensiveness or delay, but decisive action from all of us. There must be zero tolerance for sexual harassment and bullying in the Scottish Parliament. We all have a responsibility to ensure that proper systems are in place to protect staff and to stamp out behaviour that has no place in any workplace, let alone in Scotland’s national Parliament. I am glad to see that there are many practical solutions and recommendations, including independent investigation and reporting systems, which have long been advocated for by women’s groups and which have already been adopted by the Labour Party. The report makes it clear that confidence, consistency and culture must now be strengthened. Holyrood must be more open, more accountable and more responsive.”
“What urgent lessons will the Government learn from the incident?”
“On Sunday night, like so many other Glaswegians, I watched in horror as yet another fire ripped through the heart of our city. I want to place on record my thanks to the members of the emergency services who ran towards danger to protect others. Thanks to them, no one was seriously injured or lost their life. On Monday morning, when I spoke to workers there, I saw the best of Glasgow: businesses handing out coffee to workers who were dealing with the fallout and volunteers who were helping to manage commuters. People really do make Glasgow. The fire has raised a number of issues, including the regulation and licensing of vape shops, the availability of support packages for those who have lost their livelihoods, how soon we can restore normality for workers and commuters, and, of course, the resourcing of our Fire and Rescue Service.”
“We pay tribute to the inspiring resilience of the community that raised and loved them. We will remember them for ever. 12:05”
“Tomorrow marks 30 years since the Dunblane tragedy—a day that will be forever etched in our memories. Sixteen children and a teacher went to school that day but did not make it home, because of the actions of an evil man. However, it is not that evil man we should remember, but the beautiful faces of those innocent children, their brave teacher, the families left grieving for ever and all the incredible individuals who helped to pull that community together at the hardest of times. It was right to take action to ban handguns, but we must ensure that our laws are robust for the challenges and technological advancements of today. Of course, we carry the profound sorrow of the Dunblane families in our hearts, but we should also think of the children who, although they survived that day, have lived with the grief and trauma ever since.”
“Amendment 30 agreed to. 18:15 Amendment 31 moved—[Liam McArthur]. The Deputy Presiding Officer: The question is, that amendment 31 be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Deputy Presiding Officer: It would be helpful if members could clearly indicate their preferences. It is not always easy to hear because of the sound levels in the auditorium. There will be a division. The vote is closed.”