Anas Sarwar says Scottish Labour are ‘election ready’ as he revamps his top team

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has declared his party is “election ready”, with key figures appointed as election co-ordinators.

Scottish Labour’s deputy leader Jackie Baillie and Ian Murray, the party’s single Scottish MP and shadow Scottish secretary, are taking on the roles ahead of the UK general election, which is expected to take place some time next year.

Sarwar declared Scottish Labour could win seats from the SNP and help “kick the Tories out” of power at Westminster.

Recent polls have suggested a narrowing of the gap between the SNP and Labour in Scotland, while the party’s UK leader Sir Keir Starmer has also made a number of campaign trips north of the border in a bid to woo voters.

Baillie takes on the role of general election campaign coordinator alongside her existing post as Labour’s Scottish spokesperson on NHS recovery, health and social care and drugs policy.

Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie is one of two new general election campaign coordinators. PA Media

Fellow MSPs Carol Mochan and Paul Sweeney will also work on the health brief, with Mochan the party’s spokeswoman for public health and women’s health, while Sweeney will speak on mental health and veterans issues.

Daniel Johnson, who had been Scottish Labour’s finance and economy spokesman, is given a slightly changed brief, speaking for the party on economy, business and fair work.

Michael Marra, who had been education spokesman at Holyrood, now becomes Labour’s finance spokesman, while Pam Duncan-Glancy, who had been social security spokeswoman, now takes over the education role.

Sarah Boyack meanwhile is moved from external affairs, culture and the constitution to become the spokeswoman for net zero, energy and a just transition.

Labour MSP Rhoda Grant, who had been chief whip as well as spokeswoman for land reform and the islands, sees her role altered so that she will now speak on rural affairs, land reform and the islands.

Neil Bibby is switched from being transport spokesman to Labour’s spokesman on the constitution, external affairs and culture.