Labour’s winter fuel woes are a sign of things to come

On paper, the result was a success for Labour. Despite excited reports, government whips managed to keep their party’s great winter fuel revolt down to 40-odd abstentions and a single rebel. Poor Jon Trickett was the only government MP to troop into the Opposition lobby; given the treatment meted out to the child benefit rebels, he could now face a similar punishment of losing the Labour whip. By 348 to 228, MPs voted down the Conservative motion today to reverse the cut, with the government’s majority dropping from 167 to 120. Yet today’s victory is a sign of worse to come in the future.

The ninety-minute debate in parliament was not one for the ages. Sensing easy capital, every Opposition party opted to reject the government’s stance and join the Tories in voting to reject Labour’s cut. Mel Stride, the shadow work and pensions secretary, insisted ministers did not tell the truth about its plans at the election.