'He's wrong': Anas Sarwar distances himself from father's tribute to Iranian dictator Khamenei

The Scottish Labour leader’s father, Mohammad Sarwar, who became the first Muslim MP elected to the House of Commons in 1997, branded the Iranian dictator a "martyr" in a tribute on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Iranian state media confirmed that Khamenei was killed after his compound in Tehran was bombed over the weekend.

Mr Sarwar, who was formerly the governor of Punjab in Pakistan after being a Labour MP, labelled Khamenei as a “martyr” and argued that Muslims had been deprived of a “strong voice of resistance” with his death.

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Speaking on the BBC’s Sunday Show, the Scottish Labour leader described Khamenei as “evil”.

Asked by journalists about his father’s remarks, Mr Sarwar said: “I firmly disagree with him. I’m a 42-year-old man. Ask me what my view is, not what the old man’s view is.

“I’m really clear that the Iranian regime is brutal - it’s brutal with its own people, it’s a a threat to its neighbours, it’s a threat to us in the UK. What I want to see is a de-escalation for everyone in that region to feel protected, for the Iranian people to decide their future.

“The Iranian leadership has done brutal things to its one population. It’s continued to threaten many of its neighbours.”

Asked if he had discussed the remarks with his father, the Scottish Labour leader said: “I’ve not spoken to him but my view is absolutely clear.

“He’s wrong. My view is that the leader of Iran has been a brutal dictator.”

Pressed over whether the difference in opinion with his father had been difficult, the Scottish Labour leader said: “It’s not difficult at all. I have my view. He has his.

“We expressed his view, I deeply disagree with it. I’m sure many of us get embarrassed by what our old man says often in normal life, never mind public life.”