Anas Sarwar has been criticised for his “calculated decision” after accepting a peerage from new Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
Speaking to GB News, political commentator Theo Usherwood highlighted the hypocrisy of the appointment, declaring it “extraordinary”.
The Scottish Labour leader has previously called for the House of Lords to be abolished, but will now be made a minister in the new Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade.
Mr Sarwar must leave the Scottish Parliament and step down as leader in order to accept the peerage.
Reacting to the appointment, Mr Usherwood told GB News: “Somebody has put together a clip, a sort of reel of how many times Anas Sarwar had promised that he wouldn’t do this, and it ran to about five minutes.
“Labour’s problems in Scotland have been going since devolution. Since 1999, Labour have not actually ever increased the number of seats they hold in Holyrood, it’s extraordinary.”
The commentator took aim at soon-to-be Lord Sarwar for his “calculated decision” to accept the peerage.
He said: “For Anas Sarwar, he’s obviously made a calculated decision that his career is better served in London as a minister in Andy Burnham’s Government.
“Of course to do that, he’d have to be appointed to the House of Lords.”
Mr Usherwood stressed the damage that the move would cause to Scottish Labour, who are having to “fight Reform” across Scotland.
He said: “Of course, the damage will be for Scottish Labour as it tries to fight Reform, who are doing better in Scotland and of course, the SNP as well.
“And the danger for Labour in Scotland is because of this decision. It just makes it more of a straight fight between the SNP and Nigel Farage’s Reform.”
Mr Usherwood also pointed to Mr Sarwar’s efforts to help Andy Burnham on his path to power in No10, being one of the first senior political figures to call for Sir Keir Starmer to step aside.
He recalled: “It should also be noted, of course, that Anas Sarwar was critical in helping Andy Burnham take over.
“Because he was the most senior figure at the time who came out a couple of months ago and said that Keir Starmer had to stand aside.
“And when he did that, we were all braced for the fact that there could be significant resignations within Keir Starmer’s Government.
“Actually, it turned out that the only person to go at that particular stage was Wes Streeting. But he played a role and obviously he’s got his payback.”
First Minister of Scotland John Swinney has condemned the “hypocrisy” of Mr Sarwar’s peerage.
He said: “I think what it demonstrates is an appalling level of judgment by Anas Sarwar… He said before the election he had absolutely no interest in going to the House of Lords, he only wanted to be first minister of Scotland.
“Then, after the election, Anas Sarwar has accepted a place in the House of Lords – a body, by the way, he wants to abolish.
“That is an incredible level of hypocrisy and it just illustrates what I think the Prime Minister is trying to address, which is the fact that politicians say one thing one minute and then do another thing the next minute, when it suits them.”
