SCOTTISH Labour was last night facing the prospect of a new bitter contest, after Anas Sarwar launched a bid to relaunch his political career at Holyrood.
The announcement by the ex-MP and former deputy leader was met with resistance by the Labour MSP Hanzala Malik. Malik spoke out after Sarwar hosted a dinner for party members at a 500-seat venue on Tuesday night during which he declared his decision to stand as a candidate for the party’s regional list in Glasgow.
Malik said he would not be able to fund such functions to help his re-election campaign and would instead use his more modest background to win over grassroots’ support.
“If I remain on the list, I’ll doing what every other candidate does,” Malik told The National.
“I will look at the membership and see who will support me. I’m not a millionaire, so I can’t hold dinners and functions. I’m an ordinary Labour Party member from the grassroots working class.”
Unlike Sarwar, the former councillor and son of a train conductor is also putting his hat into the ring to fight a constituency seat, hoping to be selected to fight Glasgow Kelvin.
In an implicit criticism of Sarwar, who is not standing in a constituency seat, Malik added: “Unlike a lot of other politicians, I’m not afraid of putting myself forward and fighting in a constituency.”
Malik said that while he had not the same financial advantages as his rival – the son of the former Labour MP and successful businessman Mohammed Sarwar – he had the advantage of being closer to his working-class roots.
“I think I would have the advantage in being considered a typical Labour candidate. I come from a poor background without any airs and graces, I’m not a businessman, I’m not a tycoon. I live in a housing association house. I would be your typical Labour person.
“Just because he has a lot of wealth, does not mean he has more advantage than I do.
“My advantage is I have worked as a councillor for 17 years, done a lot of important jobs there and have a history of working hard for my community.”
Malik currently tops the Glasgow list and faces the prospect of losing his seat as competition intensifies for a favoured ranking.
In addition to Sarwar, Glasgow Labour MSPs Johann Lamont, Patricia Ferguson and Paul Martin may also seek a place on the party’s competitive Glasgow list in a bid to help improve their chances for re-election if they lose in their constituency seats. Polling indicates this is likely following the party’s haemorrhaging support north of the Border.
Sarwar was one of the big-name losers at May’s general election, yielding his Westminster seat to the SNP’s Alison Thewliss.
Under previous leader Jim Murphy, Labour changed the rules regarding its regional lists, with sitting MSPs no longer guaranteed top billing.
Instead, it is based on gender balance, with four regions headed by a male candidate and four by a female candidate.
With a maximum of five seats up for grabs via the list and all current Glasgow MSPs looking for a place, much jockeying is expected in the weeks ahead.
Nominations have to be submitted by November 23, with the shortlisting completed by December 5 and completed lists announced in February.
Sarwar was viewed as one of Labour’s rising stars at Scottish and UK level after his election in 2010 as an MP for Glasgow Central.
He played a key role in the anti-independence Better Together campaign, as deputy to then leader Johann Lamont. He stood down from the deputy role in October last year. Last year, he came was criticised for sending his son to Hutchesons’ Grammar School, the same independent school he attended, rather than a local state school.
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