WE political editor Beth Rigby was in Glasgow with Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer, as Labor launched its election campaign in Scotland today.

He asked Sir Keir about Scotland’s role in the general election, after four of Labour’s six “first steps” were devolved.

Beth said, “You shouldn’t talk to Scottish people.”

Sir Keir disagrees: “We are of course talking to the Scottish side – and Scotland is very important to a Labor government.

“Not just in terms of numbers, although that is important, but also because if I have the honor of being Prime Minister, I want to be Prime Minister of all of Britain.

“So Scotland’s powerful voices matter.”

Responding to Labour’s “first step”, Sir Keir said the economy “is vitally important here in Scotland, which is why Anas (Sarwar) and I have worked hard to make it happen.

“A new deal for workers – vital for jobs in Scotland.”

The Labor leader highlighted the ‘ordinary issues’ that matter to Scotland.

But does Labor need Scotland to win the election?

Sir Keir said the project being built by Labor should be a project for “the whole of Britain that will take us forward – but it is also something that is very important to me personally”.

He added: “Of course it’s about the numbers, to make sure we have a Labor government, but it’s also about who I am as a person.

“I want to be Prime Minister of all of Great Britain.”

This means “strong representation” in Scotland, he said.