“He pressed the wrong button."
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar mistakenly sided with the Scottish Tories on a budget motion, going against his own MPs.
On December 11, 2024, the Conservatives provoked fury among all other Holyrood parties.
They demanded that the Scottish Government axe plans to spend £2 million of taxpayer money on free buses for asylum seekers.
The Conservatives voted against the Labour universal winter heating payment.
Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) from the Labour Party voted for the motion except Sarwar, who apparently pressed the wrong button twice when it was time to make a decision.
The error was highlighted on X by Colin Mackay, the Political Editor of STV, who stated:
“Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar seems to have voted with the Scottish Conservatives in Parliament tonight against the rest of his MSPs.”
He then posted: “He pressed the wrong button.”
This error was swiftly identified on social media, resulting in considerable ridicule.
Mocking came from across political parties and the public.
Leader of the Scottish Tories, Russell Findlay, wrote on X:
“In a surprise twist, Labour leader Anas Sarwar has an (accidental) outbreak of Scottish Conservative common sense?”
Other social media users contemplated how Sarwar could make the same mistake twice by voting against his party two times in a row.
SNP Bearsden Councillor Ian Gallagher said:
“Looking at the voting record twice Anas Sarwar voted with the Tories against an amended motion which supports a universal winter heating payment that he demanded.
“He’s claiming he pressed the wrong button… making the same mistake TWICE come on!”
On December 12, 2024, at First Minister’s Questions (FMQs), Sarwar could not escape the blunder as First Minister John Swinney scolded the politician:
Watch as John Swinney ridicules Anas Sarwar after the Scottish Labour leader was unable to vote correctly on the winter fuel payment not once, but twice. pic.twitter.com/fFOL8ukG58
— MSM Monitor (@msm_monitor) December 12, 2024
Sarwar acknowledged the blunder and attempted to brush it off. Nonetheless, criticism and mocking remain regarding the mistake.
Anas Sarwar admits to ‘mistake’ after voting with Scottish Tories. https://t.co/k07NPYrjwL pic.twitter.com/7Zk4B0ssCW
— STV News (@STVNews) December 12, 2024
The Scottish Parliament voted for an amendment tabled by Finance Secretary Shona Robison.
The amendment effectively erased all of the Tories’ motion, replacing it with a statement that welcomed action on the winter fuel payment and two-child benefit cap.
Loading ...