So could Anas Sarwar be installed as Scots Secretary by New Year?

By HANNAH RODGER, SCOTTISH CHIEF REPORTER Published: 19:18, 25 July 2026 | Updated: 19:24, 25 July 2026 Anas Sarwar could replace Douglas Alexander as Secretary of State for Scotland within six months, Labour sources say. The Mail on Sunday understands that the former Scottish Labour leader, who dramatically quit Holyrood last week to become a peer and trade minister, is being eyed up to lead the Scotland Office. One Labour figure said there would be a sense of ‘karma’ about the expected move. Mr Sarwar publicly called for Sir Keir Starmer to resign in February when support for the then PM was plummeting within Labour. In contrast, Mr Alexander was one of Sir Keir’s most loyal supporters. Mr Alexander also led Labour’s disastrous campaign strategy in May’s Holyrood election as the party’s MSPs fell from 22 to 17. One Labour source said relations between the men became strained after Mr Sarwar publicly called for Sir Keir to quit, amid criticism of the appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador. It later emerged Mr Alexander had been a close ally of Lord Mandelson, with messages showing the Lothian East MP thanking the Labour grandee for his help in getting re-elected to Westminster. The Scottish Secretary also hosted a representative of Lord Mandelson’s lobbying firm Global Counsel as his first ministerial meeting.  Anas Sarwar gave up his role in Holyrood to become a trade minister under new PM Burnham ‘They could barely thole each other,’ the source said, adding that Mr Alexander has a reputation within Labour for being haughty, cold and distant. Mr Sarwar was viewed as a popular leader of the Scottish party, despite failing to win the Holyrood election.  And although Andy Burnham’s decision to keep Mr Alexander as Scottish Secretary last week came as a surprise to many within Labour, the source claimed it was always viewed as a holding position. They added: ‘We reckon Andy had to hold his nose while signing off on Alexander continuing in his role. Most Labour colleagues believe Anas’s next move will be to the Scottish Office.  'The peerage and trade brief are only the beginning – for Douglas Alexander they’re the beginning of the end.’ A second Labour source said: ‘Anas has huge political ambitions, is highly skilled and people like him. Although he will be good in the trade position, he is capable of a lot more than that.’ However, one Labour figure pointed out that should Mr Sarwar take over the Scotland Office, it would leave no ministerial Scottish representation in the Commons other than a junior minister. Labour figures suspect Mr Sarwar could replace Douglas Alexander in the Scotland Office One Labour MP said: ‘It would be a huge open goal which the SNP and others could exploit. ‘I don’t think Anas will be happy in that trade job for any length of time but on a practical level I don’t know how you can have a peer leading the Scotland Office. It’s unprecedented.’ The Tories came under fire during Boris Johnson’s tenure as Prime Minister when Malcolm Offord was made a peer so he could take up a junior role in the Scotland office. Mr Offord later quit the Lords and defected to Reform, where he now acts as the party’s Scottish leader and is an elected MSP. A Downing Street spokesman said: ‘The Cabinet positions are already set out. I have nothing to add.’