Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar set to become a minister in Burnham's government

Anas Sarwar had called for Sir Keir Starmer to resign in February

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar is set to stand down to become a minister in Andy Burnham's government.

It would mean Sarwar leaving the Scottish Parliament and his leader role, then taking up a seat in the House of Lords.

Sarwar publicly called for Sir Keir Starmer to resign in February, provoking a political near-death experience for the then prime minister.

It is thought Sarwar, who has led the Scottish Labour Party since 2021, will become a business minister.

He was at the event in London last Friday when Burnham became the new Labour Party leader.

Scottish Labour won just 17 seats out of 129 in the Scottish Parliament elections in May.

Andy Burnham still has a raft of ministerial appointments to make

At the time Sarwar promised to stay on as the leader of the party in Scotland but his appointment as a minister at Westminster is expected to create a leadership vacancy.

There wouldn't, though, be a by-election for his Holyrood seat as he was elected via the regional list.

As of last year, new rules prevent politicians from sitting at both Westminster and Holyrood at the same time.

In May, as reported by The Herald, external, when asked if he would ever take up a seat in the House of Lords, Sarwar said: "No. I'm focused on being first minister of this great country."

He added: "My only commitment, my only focus, is serving my constituents in Glasgow and serving the great people of this country, if I get the honour of being first minister."

After Sir Keir's resignation in June, when asked if he planned to serve as party leader for the full five-year Holyrood term he said: "That is my intention.

"I'm hungry for the fight ahead and I want to play my full part in making sure this country never ends up in the hands of Nigel Farage and Reform."

Sarwar made last-minute decision to call for Starmer's resignation

Douglas Alexander to remain Scottish Secretary as Burnham confirms cabinet

When Burnham became prime minister on Monday, Sarwar hailed him for his "bold Labour vision".

Former Greater Manchester mayor Burnham appointed his cabinet on Monday night, but a raft of ministerial appointments are still to come.

BBC Scotland Westminster correspondent Paris Gourtsoyannis said Scottish Labour parliamentarians appeared to have been blindsided by the news.

An MSP called Sarwar's decision "bizarre", while a senior Scottish Labour MP said it was "absolutely mad. I cannot begin to fathom the logic of it."

As a Scottish Labour peer, Sarwar would be entitled to attend meetings of