Scottish Labour MPs Debate Leadership Ahead of May Holyrood Election
The Times reported that three Scottish Labour MPs are seeking to oust Prime Minister Keir Starmer before the Scottish Parliament elections in May amid fears that Labour could suffer heavy losses due to his unpopularity.
A Scottish Labour MP described leadership-plot claims as rubbish to the Daily Record, while acknowledging the prime minister's unpopularity during a Westminster briefing.
The mood within the Scottish Labour group is intensively scrutinised as Scotland enters a six-month countdown to the polls. Starmer has been visiting Scotland but has not appeared on the election trail or in party broadcasts.
Triggering a Labour leadership challenge would require the support of 80 MPs. Party rules stipulate that the sitting leader's name appears on the ballot, and historically, Labour has not challenged a sitting prime minister.
Among Scotland's 37 Labour MPs, 15 hold front bench roles, including Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander, indicating substantial but not uniform loyalty to Starmer.
Anas Sarwar is expected to take a leading role in the 2026 Holyrood campaign. Some view Westminster intrigue as potentially detracting from focusing on the SNP's record in government.
In the June by-election for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse, Labour won by 602 votes, crediting a strong ground operation that involved knocking on 8,000 doors.
The upcoming May Holyrood election will cover 73 constituencies, making the national mood a critical factor for Labour as it seeks to contrast its message with that of SNP governance.
