Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader, has been plunged into an internal party row after a botched attempt to install allies in the House of Lords sparked open dissent among colleagues. The dispute has exposed simmering tensions within Scottish Labour ahead of next year's Holyrood election, raising questions about Sarwar's authority over the party and his ability to present a united front against the SNP.

The row centres on the handling of peerage nominations, which critics say was mismanaged and carried out with insufficient consultation, prompting accusations of factionalism and poor judgement from within the party's own ranks. The episode has been described as descending into farce, with senior figures reportedly at odds over the process, adding to pressure on Sarwar as he seeks to steady the party's fortunes in Scotland.