Scottish Budget Fails After Green Party Dissed

So the Budget went before the Scottish Parliament today. If you recall, the Green Party wanted £100 million to insulate every home in Scotland. In a budget of £32 billion, that's not a lot to ask.

The Government offered £22 million. The budget failed to be approved.

I got home from work and started watching online just as Patrick Harvie, the co-leader of the Greens, finished speaking, so I had no idea there was much controversy. I assumed, as I guess most commentators had, that the Greens would get what they want.

Then I started following events on The Steamie, The Scotsman's political blog. Which explained why Patrick Harvie was sitting bug-eyed every time the camera showed him in the chamber.

Actually, I'm quite proud of Harvie's negotiating. The government really should have just said yes to the whole £100 million last week and guaranteed themselves the votes. And saved everyone else a lot of angst.

Not least of all Mr Two Doctors. I'm quite worried about him after this line in The Steamie:

Green spin doctor James Mackenzie looks like he has never known stress like this in his life.

I do hope he's lying down in a darkened room, with a cold flannel over his forehead.