Yes, There is Such a Thing as a Reverse Gear, After All.

It's getting ridiculous out there.

Barely a day after the Budget is voted down by the principled opposition parties in the Parly, and suddenly it appears that there is indeed a price for their said principles.

For the LibDems, it's the cost of a stamp. Which goes on a letter from the Salmondista to the Calman Commission asking for tax raising powers.
It's not £800m of tax cuts after all, so that's what is called a good deal, I suppose.
Interesting thought; in one day, the SNP has saved £799,999,999, 73p for public services from planned LibDem cuts;-).

For Iain's Labour pains, it's a serious watering down of his flagship apprentices policy.
Given that only a week ago he was making this the centrepiece of his attack in FMQs, that's quite a concession.... or should that be 'reverse'.

Patrick Harvie is involved in talks with SNP ministers, who may be selling tickets for what promises to be the most excruciating show in politics (although Jinglin' Geordie Foulkes, pushes it close by introducing business clients to London cabinet ministers and committee chairs in return for £1k a day - a real consultant would want much more - just ask the Tories).
My darker side can't help but feel that some people in the cabinet might be enjoying watching Patrick dance.

So, why the reversal?
Well, the unionist press and parties are trying to paint this as either pure altruism on their part, or as a humiliation for Sanny Salmond.

Given that the FM is looking like a very happy bunny today, when yesterday he did a fair imitation of Sauron the Great whilst pulling Iain Gray's wings off in the chamber, the 'humiliation' theory doesn't really stand up.

Is it altruism, though?
Have the scales fallen from eyes, and a Damascene perception of the greater good become apparent to all the sinners on the grumblies benches?

It's much more likely that on Wednesday we had a bit of willy measuring going on.
The Unionists and Greens tried to flex a bit of muscle, and show that the spirit of the hard gambling Cincinatti Kid was still alive and well on the opposition benches.
Just a shame that they were up agin Lancey Howard, in the form of Salmond, who came out again holding pretty much all the cards.

Come Wednesday evening, when the febrile passions of the chamber were cooling, and wiser councils were prevailing; I'm willing to bet that a few local authority heidies on the Labour side were calling on Iain and saying words to the effect of:
"Dear Leader, what the f*** art thou doin', but? Whit aboot wurr budgets, eh?"
Iain's a caring and listening guy, so I daresay he took note.

The Libs took a metaphorical walk to the lift; the doors opened.
No lift, just a big deep shaft.
With spikes at the bottom.
Oops.
Cold sweats and panic, followed by a frantic and leggy leap back from the abyss, by the Ginger Grinch, into the waiting arms of a cheery Alex Salmond.

I suppose you could say that the oppo parties learned the hard way that, if people out there are worried about their jobs, the health service funding, council budgets, and their houses; then the last thing they need to see is a budget being buggered about with for purely political ends.

You could say that, and I think you'd be right.

Last year, Iain's Labour abstained from the budget vote after getting their way, making prize twits of themselves in the process.
This year, they're doing the Grand Old Duke of York, and backing off again.

Again, they, along with the Libs and Greens, chose the wrong fight, in the wrong place, at precisely the wrong time.