Former Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has stood by his previous calls for the House of Lords to be abolished, despite being granted a peerage so he can become a minister in Andy Burnham's government.

In 2022 Sarwar called for the Lords to be scrapped and replaced with a democratically elected chamber.

But, despite stepping down last month to become Minister of State for Trade, he told BBC Scotland News: "I have always said that there should be a senate of the nations and regions. I still have that view."

Earlier, he told an Edinburgh Fringe event that leading Scottish Labour was the hardest job in British politics and urged his potential successors to avoid infighting.

Sarwar spoke to BBC Scotland News afterwards and repeated his previous views on the Lords.

Asked if he misled people by saying, before the Holyrood election, that he wouldn't accept a peerage, Sarwar replied: "My aspiration and ambition was to be first minister of Scotland.

"Clearly I failed in that aspiration and now I want to make sure that this Labour government is a success and we deliver for people in every part of our great country."

Speaking during the fringe show, Sarwar lamented how difficult it was to lead the party.

He said: "People talk about the hardest job in British politics, and so often I heard people say the hardest job in British politics was being the leader of the UK Labour Party in opposition.

"Honestly, hand on heart - because I've done it for five years - the hardest job in British politics is being the leader of the Scottish Labour Party.

"And for so many reasons, it is the hardest job in the world."

Labour won 17 seats in the May election - four less than in 2021 - while the SNP took 58.

Having stepped down as a Glasgow MSP, Sarwar said he would not be the type of former leader who would be "publicly giving advice all the time".

He added: "The best thing you can do to support someone in that job is be available to give them advice, be supportive of them.

"If they ask you to help, always help them; go out of your way to help them but don't be a public commentator on them."

Speaking to comedian and podcaster Matt Forde, Sarwar admitted Scottish Labour had struggled to communicate its vision during the spring campaign, while being hindered by scandals facing the government led by Sir Keir Starmer.

In February Sarwar became the first senior Labour figure to call on the prime minister to quit.

Sir Keir resigned in June and was replaced by Andy Burnham last month.

Days later Sarwar confirmed his new role.

Writing on X he said: "I am delighted and honoured to have been asked by the prime minister to serve every part of the United Kingdom as the Minister of State for Trade."

Three MSPs - Michael Marra, Joe Fagan and Monica Lennon - are now hoping to replace Sarwar.

While he declined to endorse a candidate, Sarwar warned the contenders and their teams against infighting as the race becomes more embittered.

He told Forde: "I think genuinely the three people who are standing, I've got a lot of time for," he said.

"I think they are able, talented individuals.

"The only (thing) that I would say to all three of them and to all 17 MSPs is your relationship with each other, your ability to work with each other and to look out for each other is going to be crucial.

"So, yes, go through a full leadership election, but think about what happens the day after it, not just what happens during it."

Lennon - who has yet to secure enough support to get on the ballot of members - earlier said the leadership race was about finding "our party's missing soul".

She lost her seat at the election but is able to return to Holyrood after the summer recess to fill the Glasgow list MSP vacancy left by Sarwar.

Writing in the Sunday Mail newspaper, Lennon said: "Again, our political conversation turns inward as politicians and activists search through the rubble, trying to locate our party's missing soul."

She added: "Having lost sight of our roots, we struggle to place ourselves in Scotland's future.

"It's the worst of both worlds, but this identity crisis needn't be the end of our story.

"People still need us, and we need them."

The party's ruling body, the Scottish Executive Committee, said a new leader would be in place by its conference on 19 September.

Nominations formally opened for two weeks on Monday 3 August.

Party members and supporters will be balloted on the leadership race from 28 August until 17 September.