e worried about the threat it poses in constituencies where their vote is also strong.
Both Labour and the Conservatives are using different tactics to try to hold on to their support.
Anas Sarwar’s plan is to focus on the Scottish public service failures under the SNP that include the poorly received report from the independent inquiry into children in care and ant-social behaviour by fans at the national stadium.
Meanwhile, Russell Findlay is seeking to present his party as a small government alternative to the SNP that will lower people’s taxes by prioritising economic growth over social justice.
The new Scottish National Party leader Keith Brown is staying out of the fray so far but is expected to stand on the party’s track record of delivering for Scotland as the former deputy first minister John Swinney has done.
But we can’t rule out other obstacles: possible changes in ballot box rules to include online voting or allowing all residents in Scotland to take part in a new system of enhanced citizens’ assemblies could play crucial roles.
However, John Swinney knows that so much is out of his control yet remains hopeful that an electorate that was unlikely to punish the government for average decision making has been pleased with his premiership.
