Summary

  • John Swinney faces his weekly question session in the Scottish Parliament

  • The first minister is about falling teacher numbers by the Scottish Conservatives after figures showed they fell by 621 last year

  • Swinney says the government and local authorities will work together to reverse the decline

  • Scottish Labour's Anas Sarwar says pupils with additional support needs are being failed

  • Scottish Green co-leader Lorna Slater questions why Swinney had a phone conversation with US president-elect Donald Trump last week and warns of a 'Trumpification' of Scottish politics

  • Swinney says he has a duty to represent Scotland's interests on the international stage, and that they discussed the Scottish whisky industry

  • The issue of whether non-fatal strangulation should be a criminal offence in its own right is raised

  • The FM says he would consider such a move if a gap in the existing law was discovered

  1. Swinney says teacher numbers will risepublished at 12:06 Greenwich Mean Time 12 December

    John Swinney addresses Russell Findlay's questionsImage source, Scottish Parliament

    The first minister answers by confirming that this year's annual teachers census shows teacher numbers are down.

    But he says the government and local authorities will "work together" to bring numbers back to 2023 levels.

    He says this will take effect in the coming year.

  2. Findlay asks about teacher numberspublished at 12:03 Greenwich Mean Time 12 December

    Russell Findlay address the First MinisterImage source, Scottish Parliament

    Findlay's first question is focused on education in Scotland, with recent figures showing a decrease in teaching numbers.

    The Tory leader says pupils and teachers are "being failed" and asks the first minister if numbers are rising.

  3. And they're off!published at 12:01 Greenwich Mean Time 12 December

    John Swinney is now seated in his chair, and Russell Findlay gets to his feet to ask the opening question at FMQs...Remember, you can watch along by clicking the Watch Live icon at the top of the page.

  4. Analysis

    Analysis: Some sparky exchanges likely before Christmas recesspublished at 11:40 Greenwich Mean Time 12 December

    Philip Sim
    BBC Scotland political correspondent

    It’s been a pretty quiet week at Holyrood – the parliament feels a bit like it’s already winding down for the Christmas recess.

    But there is of course the usual slew of spiky topics for opposition leaders to ask about; waiting times, teachers numbers, puberty blockers.

    Parties are also very much in pre-election mode, workshopping attack lines for 2026.

    That’s been the case for months, but things are getting particularly sharp post-budget as positions become clearer.

    The SNP seem to be feeling pretty perky off the back of Shona Robison’s tax and spending plans, and up for a fight in a way they might not have been a few weeks ago.

    They think their policy to scrap the two-child cap has put Labour on the back foot, and John Swinney gives every impression of a man relishing clashes in the chamber.

    So despite it being a bit of a slow week in parliament, there may well be some sparky exchanges to come.

  5. What's been making the headlines?published at 11:37 Greenwich Mean Time 12 December

    Shona Robison speaking in HolyroodImage source, PA Media
    Image caption,

    Shona Robison unveiled her Budget last week

    The past several days have been typically busy in Scottish politics, and not just because of fallout from the Budget last week.

    The Scottish government backed a move to bar MSPs from also sitting as MPs or members of the House of Lords ahead of the 2026 Holyrood election - after the party's Westminster leader Stephen Flynn U-turned on his plans.

    There has been a focus on Scotland's schools, after figures showed nearly one in three pupils are persistently absent from school.

    And the first minister expressed interest in a possible ban on social media use in schools.

    It was also revealed that Scotland's water regulator spent more than £105,000 on the departure of its former chief executive following an expenses row.

  6. Welcomepublished at 11:35 Greenwich Mean Time 12 December

    Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of First Minister's Questions at Holyrood.

    The aftermath of last week's Scottish Budget continues to make headlines, as the SNP seek support to pass their financial plans.

    We'll bring you live posts and analysis from our correspondents.

    You can also watch the Holyrood tussle here with us - just click Watch Live at the top of the page.