"I've been really open with Keir in private and in public that my objective, my plan of course was to help get rid of the Tories, of course was to help elect a UK Labour government - but my ambition was to use the general election as a stepping stone to electing a Scottish Labour government here in 2026, and I'm still confident that is exactly what will happen.
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has said the last seven months of Sir Keir Starmer's government have been hard - but he is confident his party will oust the SNP from power next year.
Striking an optimistic tone of the challenges he faces in the coming months, Mr Sarwar said he is "confident" there will be a Scottish Labour government next year.
The polls had Labour on course to form the next Scottish government at the Holyrood elections in 2026 after capitalising on the SNP's misfortunes amid a bitter leadership contest, and senior figures being involved in a police embezzlement investigation.
Mr Sarwar said: "There's no secret there have been challenges in the last seven months, but there hasn't really been a focus on what the choice is in May 2026 and that fundamental choice in 2026 is going to be more decline, more incompetence with the SNP.
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