Sarwar faces mini-rebellion over winter fuel payment cuts

To Holyrood, where Scotland’s politicians have overwhelmingly voted to oppose the Labour government’s winter fuel payment cuts. 99 MSPs voted in favour of the motion tabled by SNP First Minister John Swinney, which called on the UK government to ‘reverse the introduction of means testing for the winter fuel payment’ – and in a sign of cracks emerging in the party, it transpires that Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has faced a mini-rebellion over the matter. Oh dear.

Of Scottish Labour’s 22 MSPs, only 16 voted on today’s motion. Earlier today, rumours began to circulate that several of Sarwar’s MSPs were expected to break the whip and back the SNP – and it has now come to light that two did. Alex Rowley and Richard Leonard voted with the Nats on the issue, while the other six missing MSPs – Monica Lennon, Carol Mochan, Pauline McNeill, Rhoda Grant and Katy Clark – were slipped and allowed to miss the vote.