Budget Holyrood

Alex has an intriguing post on the failure of the SNP to get its budget through at Holyrood. Here’s his view on what will happen next:

“Will there be an election? I hae ma doots as we say up here, not least because I doubt any of the parties can truly afford a fresh campaign right now. But having tried an failed Salmond and Swinney are now in a markedly weaker position. If the opposition parties have any sense they will increase their demands, knowing that the Nats are playing a weak hand. It’s always tough when your bluff is called.

For all that the Nats blame the Greens for their (admittedly surprising) behaviour, it’s hard to see the electorate being terribly impressed by the idea of fresh elections. I suspect the punters would blame the SNP, not obstructionist opposition parties for the hassle of a fresh poll.