Can a deadlocked Holyrood agree to any major reforms?

When it comes to anything politically complex, Holyrood is frankly at a dead end.

Russell Findlay is reorienting the Conservatives towards a position that is further at odds with the Scottish National Party’s big government approach.

The Labor Party is desperate to win power for itself. The Greens are still hurting and the Lib Dems are hoping for a recovery in time for the next election.

With this poll on the horizon, there is little incentive for the parties to start opening their arms to each other.

The government also doesn’t have much time left to come up with a new game-changing proposal if it wants to get it through parliament.

Swinney’s program for government was consistent with this grim political reality, offering very few new ideas for legislation.

There are some major proposals, such as a bill to criminalize misogyny, but they are the culmination of years of work. The Misogyny Bill is based on a review published in March 2022 and the proposals should receive broad support in Parliament.

The First Minister’s top priority is ending child poverty, but no major new reforms are planned. Instead, Swinney’s strategy appears to be aimed at integrating existing services and policies more effectively.

Financial pressure has eased somewhat, with Chancellor Rachel Reeves promising to give Holyrood an extra £3.4 billion next year.

However, the current political climate means that almost all of the government’s deal-making energy will be spent on passing its own budget.

Negotiations will be held with all parties, but concrete proposals are being made to the Greens to try to secure a deal through the direct line.

With additional Treasury funds, it may be possible to revive some of their pet projects and persuade them to at least hold off.

But beyond this budget bill, it is becoming increasingly difficult to see MPs, led by a party parliament that has been in power for 18 years, agreeing on anything significant.