SCOTTISH Labour leader Anas Sarwar has secured a political commentary role on a new programme set to air on Rupert Murdoch’s upcoming TalkTV.
The Glasgow MSP is joining a “family of regular panellists” providing commentary and opinion on the weeknight show “The News Desk”, hosted by former Times Radio chief political commentator Tom Newton Dunn.
Talk TV’s flagship weeknight news programme The News Desk with @tnewtondunn launches on April 25. Updates posted here.
— The News Desk (@TheNewsDesk) April 11, 2022
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TalkTV is due to go live later this month, with planned content including Piers Morgan Uncensored and appearances from Julia Hartley-Brewer, Mike Graham and Jeremy Kyle, currently all broadcasters on the TalkRadio station. Shows from the new channel will also be shown on sister conservative channels around the world including Fox Nation in America, and Sky News Australia.
Sarwar is one of several politicians confirmed as panellists for the nightly Newsroom programme, alongside Labour MP Tan Dhesi MP and Conservative MP Bim Afolami MP. It is currently unclear how often he will be appearing on the programme, as he is described only as a “regular panellist” by the broadcaster.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer (right) and Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar
Journalists Adam Boulton, Douglas Murray, Emily Sheffield, Grace Blakeley, Isabel Oakeshott, James Slack and Kate McCann also form the group of commentators, along with Miatta Fahnbulleh, chief executive of the New Economics Foundation.
According to Newton Dunn, his programme will “serve no political agenda or ideology”.
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“We’re going to do that in a fresh and engaging format, and to help us we’re really pleased to have recruited 11 of the sharpest and most perceptive political voices in the UK who will take it in turns to make up our nightly panel.
“We’re also very lucky to have such a strong cadre of specialist journalists to draw upon for reports and analysis from across News UK’s breadth of titles. It’s hugely exciting to be offering something a little different.”
Scottish Labour have been contacted for comment.
Sarwar is not the only Scottish politician to have been snapped up by the News UK broadcasting arm.
Earlier this year it was confirmed that former Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson would be joining Times Radio to present the Friday afternoon show.
Prior to getting into politics, Davidson worked for several years as a journalist and broadcaster.
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