Scottish Labour's positioning is "Total Politics", zero principle. They want to be seen as distant from London, ie a reasonable choice if you're a nationalist vote N of the border. Anwar has calculated that adherence to this Self ID law shows "he's his own man", not beholden to the main party in England.
He's another Labour male that knows what a woman is, doesn't truly believe anyone can change sex. But for cold political reasons, he's happy to throw all girls and women under the bus, knowing that most voters could easily give him a bye on this, especially with the SNP being Self ID.
He benefits from SNP fucking up over the very selfsame law change he supported!
And shows himself no lackey of London.
I actually think the SNP are more principled than he is, just how fucked up is that?!
Sturgeon at least believed the continent-sized crap she was happy to promote. Anwar doesn't, and yet was still happy to wave it thru, and fight for it now.
Starmer knows that Anwar's position is a massive risk to Labour's overall electability at the GE.
If people like me, and millions others, decide we could give Starmer a bye and vote Labour, but won't because our fear is that if Labour get in, Anwar and Drakeford takes will become Labour policy in office, then we won't vote Labour in droves.
Anwar is one of the most despicable politicians I can think of.