Labor will abolish the House of Lords, says Scottish party leader Anas Sarwar

Anas Sarwar has also said Labor will not strike a deal with the SNP, calling Boris Johnson a "gift" to Nicola Sturgeon's party. He told a Westminster audience that the Labor Party will bring "new hope" to politics and bring about change by uniting people.

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Image: Getty Images)

Scottish Labor has vowed to abolish the House of Lords and replace it with an elected senate of the nations.

Anas Sarwar today said the new chamber would have a specific mandate to ensure smaller parts of the UK are not marginalized as he ruled out a pact with the Scottish National Party.

Speaking in Westminster, Mr Sarwar criticized the Lords for having "no place in 21st century politics".

Labour pledged to abolish the Lords in its 2019 manifesto. Party leader Keir Starmer mentioned this in his 2020 leadership bid.

As part of his "10 Commitments", Mr. Starmer said: "Pushing power, wealth and opportunity away from Whitehall.

The chamber of the House of Lords at the official opening of Parliament (

Picture:

Getty Images)

"A federal system to devolve powers - including through regional investment banks and oversight of regional industrial strategy. Abolish the House of Lords - replace it with an elected chamber of regions and nations . »

Mr. Sarwar told an audience in Westminster: "The House of Lords, in its present form, is an institution which has no place in 21st century politics.

"It is unacceptable, and has been for far too long, to have unelected representatives wielding such power.

"The House of Lords must be abolished and replaced by an institution which better reflects the composition and identity of the United Kingdom."