Anas Sarwar - New Labour Leader Appoints His Cabinet

1st March 2021

Anas Sarwar has unveiled a Campaign Cabinet to lead Scottish Labour into the forthcoming election.

Mr Sarwar has appointed MSPs and party candidates to key posts, reflecting there are less than ten weeks until voters are scheduled to go to the polls.

Protecting and creating jobs will be at the heart of the party's election campaign and Monica Lennon has been appointed to lead on this as Scottish Labour's economy and fair work spokesperson.

Amid the ongoing pandemic, deputy leader Jackie Baillie will be spokesperson for health and social care.

New appointments to the Cabinet include North East Scotland candidate Michael Marra as education spokesperson, and Glasgow candidate Pam Duncan-Glancy as social security spokesperson.

Shadow Scottish Secretary Ian Murray and Scottish Labour group chair Mark Griffin will both attend the Campaign Cabinet.

Mr Sarwar has also made additional spokespeople appointments, including Claudia Beamish who has been named as COP26 spokesperson to lead the party's engagement with environmental groups and other organisations in the run-up to November's vital summit in Glasgow.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said: "We are only weeks away from the Holyrood election and we have built a team from both the Parliament and our wider movement for our Campaign Cabinet.

"I am determined to bring our party together and harness all our talent, so that together we lead Scottish Labour into this contest with a firm focus on rebuilding our country.

"In the coming weeks we will outline our vision for Scotland, with an NHS restart plan, a catch-up plan for our children, and a real vision for jobs - for now, and for the future.

"We will focus on what unites our country - not what divides it - because by working together we can build a better future for Scotland."

Other positions

Attending Campaign Cabinet

Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland - Ian Murray MP

Chair of the SPLP + Business, Fair Work & Skills - Mark Griffin MSP

Additional spokespeople

COP26 spokesperson - Claudia Beamish MSP

Energy, Connectivity and the Islands - John Erskine

Children and Young People - Martin Whitfield

Further Education, Higher Education and Science - Paul O’Kane

Public Health and Sport - Monique McAdams

International Development - Katy Clark

Trade, Innovation and Public Finance - Paul Sweeney

Mental Health and Older People - Carol Mochan