Joe Fagan becomes third MSP to join Scottish Labour leadership race

Sarwar, who has led the Scottish Labour Party since 2021, said he would work with his successor to serve people in Scotland.

The party’s ruling body, the Scottish Executive Committee, said a new leader would be in place by its conference on 19 September.

Nominations will formally open for two weeks on Monday 3 August.

Party members and supporters will be balloted on the leadership race from 28 August until 17 September.

After stepping down, Sarwar said in a statement on social media he was “delighted” to join the UK government and it had been “an honour” to serve people in Glasgow, where he was an MSP, and across Scotland.

King Charles confirmed Sarwar would be granted a peerage so he could join the House of Lords.

Sarwar’s decision was criticised by opposition politicians, who called it “hypocritical” as he had previously called for the House of Lords to be scrapped.

He said he was “disappointed and sorry” for Scottish Labour’s poor performance in the Scottish Parliament elections in May, adding: “I take my fair share of responsibility for that.”

Scottish Labour won just 17 seats out of 129, a record low for the party.