Tom Griffin (London, OK): An interesting situation is developing in Scotland, where the SNP minority government is trying to get its budget through the Holyrood parliament. Last year's spending plans got through because of Labour abstentions, but that may be less likely this time around.
Finance Minister John Swinney has said the government would have to resign if the budget falls. That would give Labour the opportunity to put forward its own leader Iain Gray as First Minister. However, it might mean an election if he could not secure a majority. As The Scotsman notes, that prospect may hold fewer fears for Labour than it did during the SNP's honeymoon last year.
Nevertheless, the BBC's Brian Taylor believes that it won't come to that as the SNP is sounding out all opposition parties in hopes of securing a deal.
There have even been talks with Labour itself, but support from that quarter is unlikely as they are demanding major changes to the budget. An agreement with the Lib Dems also looks to be off the table as the SNP has rejected their proposal for a 2p cut in income tax.
The Guardian reports that a deal with the Greens is close. That could be crucial, but would still leave the SNP needing Tory support to be sure of a majority
