Scottish Labour leadership hopeful Anas Sarwar has said he wants to become a “symbol of hope” to people of colour as he aims to become the UK’s first political party leader from a non-white background. Mr Sarwar, who is of Pakistani descent, said his election as leader of his party would send a strong message about Scotland being a welcoming place to live. Speaking after nominations for the contest closed, Mr Sarwar said racist abuse he has suffered in the past, either due to his own career as a politician or aimed at his father Mohammed Sarwar, the first Muslim MP in the UK, only made him more determined.