Malcolm Chisholm regrets how he voted at Holyrood

Mr Chisholm backed the government's stance when he voted after a debate in the Scottish Parliament on Thursday.

However, at the weekend the Labour MSP said he regretted having put party loyalty before his personal views and described his decision as "immoral".

On Monday, Mr Chisholm urged his party colleagues at Westminster to follow their consciences and vote against war if they are given the chance.

Express a view

However, Mr McConnell had nothing but praise for his health minister.

"Malcolm Chisholm is an outstanding health minister who has done a fantastic job," he told reporters.

"He has a right to express a view on decisions that are made elsewhere.

"He has done that in a measured and sensible way and I retain full confidence in him as my health minister."

I just hope that all Labour Party members will exert as much influence as they can on MPs and the prime minister Malcolm Chisholm

Speaking in Edinburgh on Monday, Mr Chisholm said Labour MPs were facing the same "dilemma" he experienced last week.

"I hope they will vote against this war and not put loyalty to the party or their colleagues before that," he said.

"That is the wrong thing to do when there are issues of life and death at stake."

He said Labour MPs had to exert as much pressure as possible in an attempt to avert any plans for war without United Nations backing.

"The majority feeling in the Labour Party would undoubtedly be against a war without a clear mandate from the United Nations," he added.

Party line

"I just hope that all Labour Party members will exert as much influence as they can on MPs and the prime minister because I think that is the last hope for avoiding war."

The Scottish Parliament narrowly voted to support the government's stance following a debate called by the Scottish National Party on Thursday.

Six Labour MSPs rebelled against the party line and backed an amendment from party left-winger John McAllion insisting "no case for military action against Iraq has been proven".

A further three Labour backbenchers abstained on Mr McAllion's anti-war amendment, which was defeated by five votes.