Scotland reporter

SCOTTISH Labour leader Anas Sarwar pitched for supporters of separation yesterday in his first major speech of 2024.

Speaking in Rutherglen, the site of the party’s Westminster by-election victory in October, Mr Sarwar set out his stall for a general election year he described as a “momentous year in the history of British and Scottish politics.”

Despite repeating his position that there was “no majority for a referendum right now,” Mr Sarwar called on those who had supported Scottish independence, or who had contemplated it, to rally behind his party.

He said: “We may ultimately disagree on the final destination for Scotland. But on this part of the journey, let us unite to change our country and get rid of this Tory government.”

He said the “endless childish squabbles between both two bad governments must come to an end” and vowed to “reset devolution and take it back to its founding principles.”

Mr Sarwar said: “Devolution was never meant to be about two governments fighting with each other and ultimately failing Scots.

“Devolution was always meant to be about Scottish solutions to Scottish problems and two governments working together in the national interest to actually deliver for Scotland.”

Warning the party faithful that they would face “dirty tricks” from SNP and Tory governments which “won’t hesitate to get nasty in order to try and keep hold of power,” he wanted “to show you that we can make the UK work for every corner of our country, including here in Scotland.”

SNP MP for Glasgow East David Linden said: “This ridiculous pitch tells independence supporters that Labour feels entitled to their vote without any reflection on the broken constitutional position that a majority of Scots want to see rectified.”