Starmer's had his chips

Sarwar hungry for PM to resign as Spencer's shock win in by-election shows he was right to take a strong stance

- BY PAUL HUTCHEON

ANAS Sarwar has doubled down on calls for "deeply unpopular" Keir Starmer to quit after Labour suffered a humiliating by-election defeat to the Greens.

The Scottish Labour leader urged voters to back his party in the Holyrood election on May 7 "holding their noses".

even if it meant It came as a nightmare new poll found Labour trailing in third place in Scotland.

Sarwar's speech came hours after Labour was humbled in the Gorton and Denton by-election.

Green candidate Hannah Spencer, who visited a local chippy after her win, romped home with a majority of 4402, with Reform pushing Labour into third place, piling pressure on Starmer to resign. Sarwar recently called for the PM to stand down and he was asked if he stood by his remarks.

The Glasgow MSP said: "I have stated my position. You are right to suggest that there's a deep unpopularity with a UK Labour Government, but there's a clear majority in Scotland that want the SNP out." He said of Labour's by-election loss in Greater Manchester: "Right across the country, there is anger, frustration and a volatility amongst the electorate." He also urged Labour ministers to raise their game, saying: "The best thing they could do is be at their desks, doing the work and changing lives for people in Scotland." He insisted Labour can still win at the Holyrood election, adding: "We've proven them all wrong before, and I'm telling you, we're going to prove them wrong again in 10 weeks." Scottish Labour MP Brian Leishman also claimed the PM was "selfish" for blocking Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham from standing in the by-election.