Philip Sim
BBC Scotland political correspondent

Perhaps it’s not surprising that a session of FMQs focused on the truthfulness of a minister would descend into acrimony.

It’s definitely not surprising that an exchange between John Swinney and Jackie Baillie – two of the chamber’s more gladiatorial figures – sparked a rammy.

Anas Sarwar had earlier referred to Mr Swinney’s self-applied nickname of “full-on John”, and it does reflect the bullish confidence with which the first minister has been carrying himself of late.

He is absolutely up for a scrap with the opposition benches – who are just as willing to get into a bit of back-and-forth, much to the chagrin of the presiding officer.

Alison Johnstone usually runs the chamber in a serene fashion, but today’s reprimand was as close as she has come to really slapping down members.

But given that Full-on John and his sparring partners are all building up to an election which is still well over a year away, it’s likely her entreaties for members to treat each other with respect will need to run on repeat.

It has been a particularly rowdy FMQs this week, with MSPs shouting out responses and put-downs during questions and answers.

"This is wholly unacceptable," intervenes the presiding officer during a raucous moment as Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie and John Swinney jousted over the state of the health service.

Alison Johnstone says: "If members wish to remain in this chamber then it is essential they conduct themselves in a courteous and respectful manner."

Scottish Conservative MSP Jeremy Balfour says news of the BNY Mellon banking group closing its Edinburgh office will result in the loss of 300 jobs in the region.

He asks whether the first minister had any contact with the bank and whether he believes the reason these jobs are going to England is due to policies his government is making.

Swinney says BNY Mellon did not say they are closing but are "evaluating the scale" of their Edinburgh operations and urges the importance of MSPs not alarming the public with false information.

The first minister says BNY Mellon is a huge investor in Scotland, employing thousands and the Scottish government engages constructively with them.

Tory MSP Megan Gallacher raises the issue of waiting times in A&E, following reports of a mother who had to wait 50 hours for medical care at University Hospital Wishaw.

"I apologise for the long wait experienced by the patient," says Swinney.

Gallacher says the patient compared the A&E to a "war zone" and she says the system is fundamentally broken.

She too calls for a new health secretary.

The FM says he will happily write to the patient with an apology and he insists he and the health secretary are entirely focused on the issues that matter to the people of Scotland.

Scottish Labour MSP Pauline McNeill asks the first minister whether the Scottish government intends to make the creation of deep-fake sexually explicit images and videos a crime.

The first minister says he recognises the damaging impact of these images, particularly on women who are often the victim.

He acknowledges AI makes the creation of "image-based abuse" easier and to combat this the Scottish government is considering UK government plans to criminalise the creation of deep-fake images.

Swinney adds: "This would require legislative consent and we are open to working with the UK government on this question."

Murdo Fraser reiterates the point that tariffs were placed on Scotch whisky during Trump's first term as president, costing the industry £600m.

The Tory MSP argues all politicians should recognise the need to work constructively with the US regime whatever their view of Donald Trump.

He quotes the new president of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, saying "some need to haud their wheesht when it comes to criticising the president"

The FM insists he will be focused on the issues that matter to the people of Scotland.

Douglas Fraser
Scotland business & economy editor

Image source, Getty Images

The early hours of the second Trump term were focussed, as expected, on his domestic audience, withaction on immigrationand America's culture wars to the fore.

In the rest of the world, the impact of second time around will surely be significant, but we'll have to wait longer to see if his campaign rhetoric feeds through to action.

There are a number of areas where his statements, actions and silence are most likely to affect non-Americans.

From here in Scotland - the country of his mother's birth, remember - top of the list is trade and tariffs.

Read more of Douglas's analysis here.

Now to the backbenchers, and SNP MSP Christine Grahame asks the first minister which sectors the Scottish government expects to be most impacted by tariffs following the election of Donald Trump.

She says, in 2019, President Trump imposed tariffs on the EU which impacted Scotland through 25% tariffs on Scottish whisky. She also asks what damage the first minister anticipates on Scottish industries if tariffs are imposed.

Swinney says he is alert to the dangers and damage of tariffs.

He says it's important to note no new tariffs have been introduced and he would urge all parties interested in the export of Scottish goods to come together and work towards resolutions.

The first minister says while he acknowledges people may have strong views on President Trump, as first minister it is his duty to take every step he can to protect the economic and national interests of Scotland and he will engage with President Trump to do so as necessary.

The first minister agrees that bus travel should be affordable and the argument for low-cost public travel is a goal his party shares with the Greens.

Lorna Slater points out young people across Scotland have made over 150 million free bus journeys.

"What more is the Scottish government doing to cut the cost of buses and to support workers and commuters?"

The first minister replies there are a number of steps being taken by his government to try and lower the carbon footprint of the bus fleet.

Swinney insists the Scottish Greens' proposals will be considered seriously by the government.

It is now the turn of Lorna Slater to put her questions to the first minister.

The Scottish Greens co-leader says buses are too expensive in Scotland.

She says her party has called for a £2 cap on bus fares.

Image source, scottish parliament tv

Swinney says he met with health service stakeholders on Wednesday to discuss the challenges being faced.

He says one of the participants raised the damage being caused to GPs due to the increase in employers' national insurance contributions.

The first minister says this is an example of the Westminster government acting in a fashion that will damage the delivery of health and social care in Scotland.

He says Sarwar is "utterly helpless and powerless" in the face of the UK government's actions.

Sarwar says, based on Swinney's answer, it's clear he will not be joining Nicola Sturgeon at the Glasgow comedy festival but will join her in May 2026 as an ex-first minister of Scotland.

He says the NHS and care system is in "permanent crisis" with a health secretary who "should be sacked" for mismanaging the NHS as well as misleading parliament.

Sarwar adds: "But instead, today, John Swinney will gut his National Care Service Bill with years wasted, millions lost and not a single hour extra of care delivered.

"Isn't this just the latest example that no good idea survives SNP incompetence?"

The first minister says a number of steps have been taken in recent weeks and months to strengthen social care.

He cites the expansion of the hospitals at home system, aimed at caring for people in their own homes and avoid admissions, as well as support to strengthen GP practices.

Swinney adds the big question is whether Scottish Labour will support the government on the budget which, he says, offers a record financial settlement for the health service and a real-terms increase for local authority funding to support the social care system.

Image source, scottish parliament tv

Sarwar says things are getting "worse not better under this government".

He says on any given day, around 2,000 Scots are stuck in hospital despite being able to leave - with the collective financial cost reaching £1.5bn.

He adds: "But the biggest price is being paid by countless Scots who have been failed as the situation deteriorated."

Sarwar says since Swinney "rolled up his sleeves" and "wrecked" the education system and public finances, so is it any wonder Scots fear for the future of the NHS.

The first minister says the issues around delayed discharge are complicated because they rely on the strength of the Scottish social care sector.

Swinney says he accepts the situation put to him by Sarwar is not acceptable and will be adressed by a real-terms increase to local authorities, allowing health and social care partnerships to make sure more social care places are available at local level.

He adds: "That is the practical and tangible action this government is taking to address this situation."

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar is next to question the first minister and he begins on the topic of delayed discharge in Scottish hospitals.

He says, under the SNP, delayed discharge has soared and raises the story of Yvonne, a woman from Auchterarder, who remained in hospital for over two months due to a lack of care package.

Sarwar says Yvonne took to wearing a T-shirt that read "can I go home now?" and "bed blocker".

He asks how the first minister and Health Secretary Neil Gray have "allowed things to get so bad".

Image source, Getty Images

The first minister has previously insisted he has confidence in Health Secretary Neil Gray, who has been forced to apologise for a second time over his attendance at football matches.

Gray said in November that he attended the games on "official ministerial business" and that summary notes had been taken for all the meetings at them.

This week, he said sorry to MSPs after admitting records were not kept for all the meetings.

Opposition parties have raised questions about why Gray did not seek to correct the parliamentary record about the meeting notes until the absence of documents was raised at Holyrood, after being revealed by a newspaper.

The row over meetings follows on from an earlier controversy about his use of ministerial cars to travel to games.

Swinney's loyalty will be welcomed by his health secretarypublished at 12:26 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January

12:26 GMT 23 January

Philip Sim
BBC Scotland political correspondent

John Swinney has always shown loyalty to embattled ministers.

He stood behind the previous health secretary, Michael Matheson, for weeks before he ultimately conceded he should quit over his iPad data bill.

And the first minister is if anything even more determined to back Mr Matheson’s successor, Neil Gray, who is now a weekly target for the Conservatives and Labour.

When it comes to the row over football matches, Mr Swinney notes that Mr Gray’s apology for misleading parliament hinged on a single three-letter word – “all” – and was essentially a slip of the tongue.

So the state of the health services will ultimately have a greater bearing on the health secretary’s position in government.

Perhaps that’s why Anas Sarwar decided, once again, to focus his questions on delayed discharge.

One striking thing is that the opposition are calling for Mr Gray to be sacked, without making any move to actually threaten his position. There has been no talk of an attempt to oust him via a vote of confidence.

This belies the fact that despite the SNP running a minority administration, there is not a unified front on the opposition benches.

Labour in particular are still feeling very burned from their failed attempt to bring down housing minister Paul McLennan last year, when they feel the Greens left them hanging.

That may be of little comfort to Mr Gray as he continues to be the focus of parliamentary criticism, but it does make his position that bit more secure.

Again the first minister defends his health secretary and he argues it was just one word in his answer, the three-letter word "all" in relation to notes being taken at football match meetings, that had led to the parliament being misled.

Swinney insists Neil Gray has behaved absolutely appropriately.

He invites independent advisors to come to their own view.

Image source, scottish parliament tv

Findlay says this "flagrant breach" must be investigated.

The Scottish Tory leader argues patients will continue to be let down by this "dishonest and disgraced and distracted health secretary".

"Is it not time for John Swinney to show some leadership by sending Neil Gray, in a chauffeur-driven limo if he likes, to collect his P45.