Just last month, Mr Sarwar declared that although he has a “genuine friendship” with Sir Keir, his “first priority and first loyalty is to my country, Scotland”.

He said: “That’s why the distraction needs to end and the leadership in Downing Street has to change. It is so obvious that we desperately need change in Scotland.”

Questioned on whether he still believes Sir Keir should go following criticism of his Iran strategy, Mr Sarwar appeared to backtrack on his stance.

He told GB News: “I’ve said I’m not going to be a day-to-day commentator on this issue. I’ve stated my position, I’ve made my view clear. I think the Prime Minister has made the right judgements.

“I think it was right for us not to join the offensive. I think it is right that we do have defensive infrastructure and support our allies in the region, and I think the Prime Minister’s response has been borne out by what’s happening now.”

Pushing back on Mr Sarwar’s defence, Tom challenged the Scottish Labour leader on being “buffeted back into a corner” to support the Prime Minister despite previously calling for him to resign.

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Tom stated: “This is an interesting position for you to hold, because it does seem that you sort of marched up to the top of a hill and no one followed you. Your campaign director disagrees with you, many of your MSPs disagree with you – are you really leading Scottish Labour?

“Only a few weeks ago, you were saying he should go and now you’re defending what I think a lot of people would say is quite a lethargic response to a crisis in the Middle East?”

Mr Sarwar responded: “I’d say, I think we need a higher level of maturity in our political commentary. I stated my position, and you’re wrong to say that my MSPs disagreed with me. Actually, my MSPs agreed with me.

“I wasn’t part of any plot, I wasn’t part of any coup. I’m not interested in what other people think in other parts of the country, I’m only interested in what people in Scotland think.”

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Criticising the US and Israel’s approach to Iran, Mr Sarwar argued that the two nations had “no clear plan” about the aftermath of their operation.

He said: “They’ve caused even greater instability in an already unstable part of the world, and what we need now is a de-escalation. We need to find some element of stability and making sure that people are protected.

“And of course, that our allies are protected in the region in terms of their lives and livelihoods, but also households here in the UK are protected because there are real risks.”

Looking ahead to the Scottish elections, Mr Sarwar assured GB News viewers in Scotland that he is the “only person” who can “remove the SNP from office”.

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Mr Sarwar told GB News: “I’m the person that’s put myself forward in front of the people of Scotland in nine weeks time, asking them for their support, and they deserve to know what I stand for, what my standards are, what I’m willing to accept and what I do differently here in Scotland.

“I only care about what it means for Scotland because it’s a Government in Scotland I’m trying to change. It’s a Government in Scotland I am trying to lead. And my country, Scotland, can’t afford a third decade of an SNP Government.”

He concluded: “And actually, GB News viewers in Scotland all know that we have to remove the SNP from office, and my plea I would make to them is, regardless of what your view might be on a UK Labour Government or a UK Labour Party, you know the damage that the SNP are doing to our country in Scotland.

“We have to remove them from office, and I’m the only person that can and we are the only party that can. So if you want to change Scotland, if you want the SNP out of office, I’m the man to do it.”