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| Anas Sarwar wins Scottish Labour leadership race | Anas Sarwar wins Scottish Labour leadership race |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| In his acceptance speech, Anas Sarwar said Scottish Labour has work to do "to win back trust". | In his acceptance speech, Anas Sarwar said Scottish Labour has work to do "to win back trust". |
| Anas Sarwar has been announced as the new Scottish Labour leader. | Anas Sarwar has been announced as the new Scottish Labour leader. |
| Glasgow MSP Mr Sarwar defeated Monica Lennon, the only other candidate in the race. | Glasgow MSP Mr Sarwar defeated Monica Lennon, the only other candidate in the race. |
| The contest was triggered after Richard Leonard resigned as leader, saying it was in the best interests of the party for him to stand down. | The contest was triggered after Richard Leonard resigned as leader, saying it was in the best interests of the party for him to stand down. |
| Mr Sarwar takes charge of the party ahead of the Scottish Parliament election, which is scheduled to be held on 6 May. | Mr Sarwar takes charge of the party ahead of the Scottish Parliament election, which is scheduled to be held on 6 May. |
| Mr Sarwar, who is the first minority ethnic leader of a major political party in the UK, got 57.6% of the vote, while Ms Lennon got 42.4%. | Mr Sarwar, who is the first minority ethnic leader of a major political party in the UK, got 57.6% of the vote, while Ms Lennon got 42.4%. |
| Who is the new Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar? | Who is the new Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar? |
| In his acceptance speech, he said: "I want to say directly to the people of Scotland, I know Labour has a lot of work to do to win back your trust. | In his acceptance speech, he said: "I want to say directly to the people of Scotland, I know Labour has a lot of work to do to win back your trust. |
| "Because if we're brutally honest, you haven't had the Scottish Labour Party you deserve. | "Because if we're brutally honest, you haven't had the Scottish Labour Party you deserve. |
| "With rising injustice, inequality and division, I'm sorry we haven't been good enough. | "With rising injustice, inequality and division, I'm sorry we haven't been good enough. |
| "And I will work day and night to change that, so we can build the country we all need." | "And I will work day and night to change that, so we can build the country we all need." |
| The election of Anas Sarwar is obviously important for Scottish Labour but it is a landmark in UK politics too. | The election of Anas Sarwar is obviously important for Scottish Labour but it is a landmark in UK politics too. |
| Never before has any major political party chosen a leader from a minority ethnic background. | Never before has any major political party chosen a leader from a minority ethnic background. |
| That could afford Mr Sarwar a voice, an influence and a status as a role model well beyond Scotland. | That could afford Mr Sarwar a voice, an influence and a status as a role model well beyond Scotland. |
| However, his primary job is to rebuild Labour in Scotland from their current position in a miserable third place, with Holyrood elections less than 10 weeks away. | However, his primary job is to rebuild Labour in Scotland from their current position in a miserable third place, with Holyrood elections less than 10 weeks away. |
| While his opposition to indyref2 for the whole of the next parliament offers clarity and reassurance to pro-UK voters, it may cause frustration among Labour-minded voters who support independence. | While his opposition to indyref2 for the whole of the next parliament offers clarity and reassurance to pro-UK voters, it may cause frustration among Labour-minded voters who support independence. |
| That he is his party's 10th leader since devolution, the seventh since the SNP took over from Labour in the Scottish government in 2007 gives a clue to the severity of his challenge. | That he is his party's 10th leader since devolution, the seventh since the SNP took over from Labour in the Scottish government in 2007 gives a clue to the severity of his challenge. |
| Former leader Mr Leonard congratulated Mr Sarwar, calling for the party to get behind him. | Former leader Mr Leonard congratulated Mr Sarwar, calling for the party to get behind him. |
| Ms Lennon also took to Twitter to congratulate the new leader, as well as thank her campaign staff and issue a call for party unity. | |
| She said: "Congratulations to Anas Sarwar, our new leader. Proud to have been part of this positive leadership debate." | |
| UK Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, said: "Huge congratulations to Anas on his election as leader of the Scottish Labour Party. | UK Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, said: "Huge congratulations to Anas on his election as leader of the Scottish Labour Party. |
| "I look forward to working with him to secure our economy, protect our NHS and rebuild our country." | "I look forward to working with him to secure our economy, protect our NHS and rebuild our country." |
| First Muslim leader | First Muslim leader |
| On becoming the first minority ethnic leader of a major political party in the UK, Mr Sarwar said: "That doesn't say something about me. That says something great about Scotland and its people." | On becoming the first minority ethnic leader of a major political party in the UK, Mr Sarwar said: "That doesn't say something about me. That says something great about Scotland and its people." |
| The move was welcomed by Scotland's justice secretary and SNP MSP Humza Yousaf. | The move was welcomed by Scotland's justice secretary and SNP MSP Humza Yousaf. |
| Will do politics another day, but today can I congratulate @AnasSarwar on becoming @scottishlabour leader - think this makes him first Muslim & Person of Colour leading a political party in UK, an incredible & historic achievement of which I am proud of him for. Well done Anas 👏 | Will do politics another day, but today can I congratulate @AnasSarwar on becoming @scottishlabour leader - think this makes him first Muslim & Person of Colour leading a political party in UK, an incredible & historic achievement of which I am proud of him for. Well done Anas 👏 |
| The Scottish Labour leadership race was short, and largely overshadowed by the Covid crisis, but was more cordial than previous contests the party has held. | The Scottish Labour leadership race was short, and largely overshadowed by the Covid crisis, but was more cordial than previous contests the party has held. |
| Scotland's constitutional future was one of the major features of the campaign, with both candidates repeatedly asked for their take on the issue. | Scotland's constitutional future was one of the major features of the campaign, with both candidates repeatedly asked for their take on the issue. |
| While both have said they are opposed to the idea of Scottish independence, Ms Lennon said that should a pro-independence majority be elected to Holyrood in May, the party would have to accept another referendum on the issue. | While both have said they are opposed to the idea of Scottish independence, Ms Lennon said that should a pro-independence majority be elected to Holyrood in May, the party would have to accept another referendum on the issue. |
| Mr Sarwar, meanwhile, has urged independence-supporting parties to put the issue aside and focus on the recovery from coronavirus. | Mr Sarwar, meanwhile, has urged independence-supporting parties to put the issue aside and focus on the recovery from coronavirus. |
| Reaction from rivals | Reaction from rivals |
| First Minister Nicola Sturgeon congratulated Mr Sarwar and tweeted, "he (and his dad before him) and I are long-time political opponents, but I also like and rate him. That may not always be obvious in the weeks ahead as election battle is joined, so worth saying so now." | First Minister Nicola Sturgeon congratulated Mr Sarwar and tweeted, "he (and his dad before him) and I are long-time political opponents, but I also like and rate him. That may not always be obvious in the weeks ahead as election battle is joined, so worth saying so now." |
| Douglas Ross, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, also congratulated Mr Sarwar in a tweet and added: "Yesterday I said @ScotTories will not support indyref2 or work with the SNP at any stage. I hope he will now do the same." | Douglas Ross, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, also congratulated Mr Sarwar in a tweet and added: "Yesterday I said @ScotTories will not support indyref2 or work with the SNP at any stage. I hope he will now do the same." |
| Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie said Mr Sarwar faced a "divided party" on the issue of Scottish independence. | Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie said Mr Sarwar faced a "divided party" on the issue of Scottish independence. |
| Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said the new leader should concentrate on advancing UK federalism. | Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said the new leader should concentrate on advancing UK federalism. |
| He said: "I am keen to work with Anas and his party to make reform of the UK a reality. " | He said: "I am keen to work with Anas and his party to make reform of the UK a reality. " |
| Reacting to the announcement, trade unions have appealed for Labour party unity ahead of May's Holyrood elections. | Reacting to the announcement, trade unions have appealed for Labour party unity ahead of May's Holyrood elections. |