Funny business at Holyrood
Is there tonight at Holyrood just the scintilla of a sign of an emerging deal between the SNP and the Tories which could ensure support for the Scottish Government’s budget?
Both sides insist it’s far too early to say. But consider this. Tonight in Holyrood the SNP and the Tories voted together on the issue of cuts in small business rates.
You’ll recall that the Scottish Government proposes phased introduction of such cuts. In today’s debate, the Tories urged that, if any extra cash becomes available from further Barnett consequentials, then that money should be used to speed up the cuts in the burden on business.
The SNP voted for that proposition, with Labour and the Liberal Democrats abstaining.
Could be a one off, a stand alone vote. But accelerated cuts in business rates formed a key demand for the Tories following publication of the budget.
They’re also looking, among other things, for money to enhance drugs rehab.
So might the Tories have ticked a box tonight with this support from the SNP? Stress again both parties say it’s too early to say. Me? I reckon yes.
I'm 
Comments
Of course the Torries are going to do a deal with the SNP.
The Tory Party will do anything and say just about anything to make themselves relevant.
On the other hand the SNP will jump into bed with anyone who will help them out.
Right across Scotland SNP and Tory party Cllrs are knocking themselves out to scratch each others backs.
Pity that in doing so they are letting the SNP off the hook.
All parties should do the right thing and negotiate with the SNP over every line in their budget - lest see what real concensus politics looks like.
Labour and the Liberal Democrats abstain! Either they agree with it or they are against it. Looks more like playground politics to me.
Well, it's fairly dependable analysis that there's going to have to be a deal with someone and it's going to have to be with the Tories. Labour are still sulking and the Lib Dems are more and more showing some kind of inscrutable and deeply pathological hatred for the SNP. The alternative is Parliament goes into the minutiae of promises to abstain, or games of chicken over implied votes of confidence. Who wants that? (Well, except political journalists I guess.)
Brian. Interested to get your take on this. I heard a brief snippet on Radio Scotland to the effect that the Parliament "had voted to approve the SNP's Economic Strategy", so thought this would be given coverage on the 6.30 ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Scotland news.
Not a cheep, and nothing in my Herald this morning or in The Scotsman's website content.
What's going on?
You know i I havent liked the tories since the days of thatcher. However annable goldie is growing on me she is probably the only member of the opposition parties that actually fits the description. I wouldnt mind annabel doing a deal with the snp in particular to stop wendy and nicol stephen gettting away with this mutualisation of scottish water. (privitisation more like.) Wendy newsflash for you and nicol stephen we like scottish water the way it is leave it alone.
Politics in Scotland has changed. perhaps the SNP and the (grrr) Tories are the only political parties to have realised that.
Funny business at Holyrood? - you're joking.