Watch the moment Tom Harwood slapped down the Labour MP for Dunfermline and Dollar after he backed leader Anas Sarwar to become Scotland’s First Minister.
The GB News star accused the Scottish Labour leader of being bereft of leadership skills – highlighted by his failed attempt to pile pressure on Sir Keir Starmer to resign last Monday.
But, starting off the discussion on No10’s backtrack over local election delays, Graeme Downie told Tom and co-host Nana Akua how “problematic” local council reorganisation can be, defending Labour’s latest U-turn.
He said: “As a Scottish MP, I’m very aware of how troublesome and problematic local council reorganisation can be. I think we’ve seen a little bit of that happen here with something that’s obviously quite tricky to deliver.
“It was the councils themselves who obviously asked for the elections to be postponed, and also the Government has now had legal advice that it’s unable to fulfil that request and the elections will go ahead in May.”
Taking a hold of the conversation, Tom told Mr Downie he was in a “little bit of a tricky situation” after his Scottish party leader stuck his head above the parapet and urged Sir Keir Starmer to step down.
Within hours, the rest of his top Cabinet in Westminster came out in support of their leader, as well as fellow devolved Welsh leader Eluned Morgan, leaving Mr Sarwar alone in his stand against the PM.
“You’ve got a leader in Scotland who says the Prime Minister should lose his job, and yet the guy running his campaign, the Secretary of State for Scotland, says that the Prime Minister should keep his job,” Tom pointed out.
A Labour MP told GB News his party was ‘united’ on believing Anas Sarwar should be the next Scottish leader
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GB NEWS
“I mean, your party is hideously divided north of the border on this issue.”
Nevertheless, Mr Downie insisted his party was “united” – but only clarified that they were united in believing Mr Sarwar should be the next First Minister of Scotland.
“Not united on Keir Starmer?” Tom pressed.
Refusing to answer the question directly, the MP pivoted to complain about the SNP “wrecking” public services, from health, to education and transport.
“That’s what we’ll be all working towards come the elections in May,” he continued.
“What I will not allow to happen is the SNP or anyone else to make the election in Scotland about anything other than whether or not Anas Sarwar or John Swinney should be the First Minister of Scotland.”
Mr Sarwar called for Sir Keir to step down last Monday
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GETTY
Nana Akua refused to let Tom’s questioning go unanswered, asking him directly whether Mr Downie believes Sir Keir needs to go.
But, to no avail, Mr Downie reiterated: “I think it’s been very clear that the PLP have backed Keir Starmer as a Prime Minister. As of the Cabinet, he’s been delivering for the UK and indeed for Scotland for the last 18 months.
“He’ll be continuing to do so. He’s taken responsibility for some of the errors he believes his Government has made, were about fixing them and being honest with the British people and making sure that we’re continuing to deliver.”
Appearing perplexed at Mr Downie’s dodging of the question, Tom admitted it appeared “a little bit strange” to propose Mr Sarwar to be a leader when he “hasn’t even been able to lead his own party, let alone all of Scotland”.
“I mean, he marched up to the top of the hill to declare that Starmer should go, and literally no one followed him,” Tom scoffed. “I mean, why should he be First Minister with leadership skills like that?”
The Scottish MP insisted his leader “had the right plan to fix public services in Scotland” – claiming this was voters’ greatest concern on the doorstep.
“Anas is going to be the only person who can replace John Swinney as First Minister after almost two decades of SNP rule in Scotland, which has just seen a decline in the Scottish economy and a decline in public services,” he said.
But Nana argued Mr Sarwar “stuck by his guns and showed conviction” in his beliefs – which is “quite rare” in politics.
In agreement, the MP told GB News: “I’ve known Anas for a long time. His first duty is to stand up for Scotland and to speak his mind. That’s what he’s done.
“That is absolutely his right and position as leader of Scottish Labour. I think this is a point sometimes missed, to be honest, that he is the leader of Scottish Labour.
“He is being asked about this issue. He’s given his opinion. That doesn’t stop the fact that both he and the Prime Minister will campaign together to make Anas the First Minister.”
“Well, that’s going to be an awkward bus tour, isn’t it?” Tom quipped.