Anas Sarwar Lays His Trump Cards on the Table

If you’ve been keeping an eye on the political scene, Anas Sarwar, leader of the Scottish Labour Party, has been making some pretty curious points. So, let’s dive in, because Sarwar’s really proving that neoliberalism is alive and well—and Scotland’s political ideals are getting dragged through the mud.

Let’s start with Sarwar’s grand idea of “strengthening” Scotland’s ties with Donald Trump. Yes, that Donald Trump—the one who thinks windmills cause cancer and has declared bankruptcy more times than we can count. Sarwar’s all excited about Trump’s investments in Scotland, especially his golf courses in Ayrshire and Aberdeenshire. Real investments, he says. Sure, they’ve created jobs... like washing golf carts. But it’s not just the investments themselves that are questionable—it’s Sarwar’s willingness to cosy up to a billionaire whose wealth is built on dodging taxes and questionable ethics.

Sarwar’s logic? “Trump’s family has money in Scotland, so we should be grateful for their wealth.” Yeah, nothing screams "Scottish values" like sucking up to a billionaire who’s synonymous with global wealth inequality. But Sarwar’s vision of Scotland? Neoliberal heaven. It’s all about attracting big investors—even if they come with baggage that would make the baggage claim at an airport look empty.

Next, Sarwar claims the SNP is too obsessed with identity politics and neglecting Scotland’s economy—things like independence, national pride, and control over our resources. He thinks Scotland should be about “pragmatism” and "economic growth." Translation? Let’s put all our eggs in the neoliberal basket and pray some rich guy from New York tosses us a bone. Because, obviously, nothing says real economic strategy like relying on external investors who could pack up and leave tomorrow.

Sarwar also says we need a leader who “actively wants businesses to feel wanted.” So, let’s make Scotland the place where big corporations waltz in, take all the profits, and leave the locals with crumbs. That’s Sarwar’s vision. And then he talks about “working with businesses, not against them.” Translation? Let’s hand over all of Scotland’s power to corporations. Because businesses always have the best interests of the people at heart, right?

He talks about attracting investors and creating jobs, which sounds good, but can we talk about the type of jobs he’s championing? Not well-paid, stable jobs, but gig work that leaves you wondering why rent’s gone up again. Sarwar’s vision seems to involve a race to the bottom, where the rich get richer, and the working class gets left behind. Classic neoliberal “trickle-down” nonsense. Spoiler alert: it doesn’t trickle down. Ever.

What’s really rich, though, is how Sarwar criticises the SNP for “wasting opportunities” on independence. He wants us to forget about Scotland’s right to self-determination and just focus on being a cog in the global capitalist machine. Independence? Nah, let’s put that on the backburner while we try to convince some billionaire from across the Atlantic that Scotland’s a great place to park their cash. Nothing says “progressive” like hoping external corporate interests don’t get bored of Scotland.

Then Sarwar wraps it up with this gem: we need a government that prioritises jobs, growth, and prosperity over “constitutional squabbling.” Because who needs self-determination when you can have big business investing in the nation? Why fight for control over resources when foreign corporations can do whatever they want and call it "economic growth"? Classic.

So, in conclusion, Anas Sarwar’s vision for Scotland is a poster child for neoliberalism. Profit comes before people, big business gets all the love, and the little guy gets left behind. Sarwar might claim he’s fighting for Scotland’s future, but he’s just pushing the same tired policies that have made the world more unequal.

If you like the idea of Scotland becoming a playground for multinational corporations while the rich get richer and the poor are left to scramble, then Sarwar’s your guy. Otherwise, maybe it’s time for a rethink on what kind of future Scotland deserves.