As Labour’s Anas Sarwar blames John Swinney personally for Scotland’s problems, Brian Taylor examines the First Minister’s renewed arguments for independence.

Answer me this. Which political leader do you think is presently best placed to be Scotland’s First Minister, after the Holyrood elections due in May?

Any hands raised for Russell Findlay, he who leads the Scottish Conservatives? Relatively few – even though his Parliamentary performances are gaining punch, most notably this week on the future for oil and gas jobs.

Firstly, the Tories have yet to recover from the bruising handed to them by the voters at the UK General Election last year. And, secondly, it is hard to discern how they could cut a deal with another party even if they had sufficient seats to gain a place at the negotiating table.

The Liberal Democrats? The Greens? Significant players both, but hardly contenders yet for the top job.

Anyone fancy a punt on Team Jeremy Corbyn? He says his enigmatically titled Your Party will contest Holyrood seats. Perhaps they may indeed pause internal squabbling for long enough to target Scottish votes. We watch with variable interest.

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