THE mood music for the SNP is night and day from this time last year. But the First Minister won’t be taking the votes for granted just yet.

What he will be thankful for, however, was the complete non-event of his Budget.

With support from the Greens, LibDems and a solitary Alba MSP, the Budget showed the First Minister’s capabilities for finding common ground and seeking consensus.

That’s precisely the approach he has taken in his announcement on tackling the far right in Scotland.

The First Minister and the Scottish Government look set to establish a new initiative to bring together trade unions, civic Scotland and politicians in a united front against the far right.

Ultimately, this is both welcome and necessary. The continuing rise of far-right populism poses a clear and present danger to our communities. It’s something I’ve warned about.

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It’s something I’ve written about. It’s appreciated that the government has listened to us all. But if we are to meet this threat head-on, we must ensure that this initiative is fit for purpose.

Firstly, we need a broad movement to collectivise and create unity in the face of division.

He called on us – the trade unions throughout Scotland – to play our part. We will. He also called on “civic Scotland” to step up.

To understand the role of civic Scotland, we must first reflect on its historical significance.

During the campaign for devolution, civic Scotland represented the broad coalition of community groups, trade........

© Herald Scotland