Scottish Labour MPs have been urged to back the SNP’s efforts to force a no-confidence vote in the Prime Minister.
SNP chief whip Kirsty Blackman urged Anas Sarwar, the party’s leader, to “put his money where his mouth is” and whip Labour MPs in Scotland to support the revolt.
The SNP said on Wednesday it would attempt to force a vote on Sir Keir Starmer’s future with an amendment to the King’s Speech.
New SNP Westminster leader Dave Doogan said the “leadership circus can’t go on any longer” as he seeks to force Labour MPs to stake a position on the Prime Minister’s job if he does not resign himself.
The King’s Speech is due on Wednesday, detailing the 35 Bills which will form Sir Keir’s legislative agenda for the next year.
Ms Blackman, SNP MP for Aberdeen North, said Mr Sarwar – who previously called for Sir Keir to resign – should force his MPs at Westminster to back her party’s plans.
She said: “Anas Sarwar has repeatedly failed to act on his opportunistic election stunt call for Keir Starmer to resign in February.
“At every opportunity that Sarwar has had to put his call into action, and actually remove the Prime Minister, he has chickened out.”
Ms Blackman said the Scottish Labour leader had “one more opportunity to act”, adding: “The question is, will he back the vote of no confidence or will he keep Starmer in post and allow this Westminster circus to go on and on?
“Anas Sarwar must finally put his money where his mouth is and whip Scottish Labour Party MPs to back a vote of no confidence in Keir Starmer or his empty words will amount to nothing.
“The outgoing Scottish Labour Party leader must step up to the plate and do his bit to end the Westminster leadership crisis – or the Labour Government will continue to be completely distracted from the issues that matter, including helping families with the cost-of-living emergency, which has soared under Keir Starmer.”
Ms Black accused Labour of being “completely consumed by the chaos of Keir Starmer leadership” at a time when families were struggling with the cost of living.
She added: “After taking the Scottish Labour Party to their worst ever result, this could be one of Anas Sarwar’s final acts as leader. He must do the right thing.”
Scottish Labour has been approached for comment.
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