If you're just joining us, here are the key lines from today's FMQs:

• Russell Findlay highlighted the first minister's speech about the danger of not backing the Budget playing into Elon Musk's hands
• The Scottish Tory leader accused John Swinney of being the leader of a populist party
• The FM hit back, calling on the Scottish Tory leader to "come to his senses" and back the Budget
• Anas Sarwar chose yet again to highlight issues facing the NHS in Scotland, insisting the SNP were taking it in the wrong direction and that Scots deserved better
• The Scottish Labour leader produced the line that the "SNP couldn't run a bath, never mind the NHS"
• The FM insisted NHS staff were going out of their way to do their best for patients despite "colossal" demand
• Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton called for more funding to help care for babies born with signs of drug addiction
• Swinney pledged to have his health secretary look at the issue saying "no baby should be born dependent on substances"

That's all from the live page team, thank you for joining us. Paul McLaren was the editor. Ashleigh Keenan-Bryce and Craig Hutchison were the writers.

Elon Musk, populism and the Scottish Budget...published at 12:58 Greenwich Mean Time 9 January

12:58 GMT 9 January

Andrew Kerr
BBC Scotland political correspondent

The tech billionaire Elon Musk seems to have dominated news cycles across the world in the first nine days of this new year.

From supporting the far-right in Germany and highlighting the issue of grooming gangs in England, his "populist" threat was also raised by the first minister.

John Swinney said on Monday that failure to back the Budget would mean Scottish political parties playing "right into his hands".

The Conservative leader Russell Findlay opened this afternoon by calling that claim "ludicrous" and said it was "so funny" to see Mr Swinney preaching against populism - calling him the "leader of Scotland's populist party".

The first minister hit back and said he could see the shadowy forces of "populism right in front of me".

The debate did move on to the detail of the Budget - but those opening barbs highlight the continuing SNP critique of the Scottish Conservatives - with the claim that they are having to move to the right to combat what could be regarded as a growing threat from Nigel Farage's Reform UK.

The prime minister also accused the UK Conservative party of "jumping on a bandwagon" when it came to supporting calls for a public inquiry into the grooming gangs.

The Scottish Conservatives attempt to laugh off the SNP criticism - accusing Mr Swinney of being responsible for 18 years of damaging policies in government, aided and abetted by "extremist" Greens.

Image source, RZSS

The illegal release of two lynx into the wild south of Aviemore is raised by Edward Mountain.

The Tory MSP says he is pleased to say the animals are now safely in care and calls on the FM to condemn their release.

John Swinney agrees with the Tory MSP and condemns the illegal release of the two cats, which wildlife experts have also condemned.

SNP MSP Christine Grahame asks, following the release of Dr Jim Swire's book on the Lockerbie bombing and a subsequent TV series, whether the first minister would support a UK public inquiry, 30 years on.

The first minister expresses his sympathy for those who lost their lives on Pan Am flight 103, recalling the "terrifying" impact on those affected.

He says he would prefer not to speculate while there are ongoing judicial processes in the American courts - with a bombing suspect set to stand trial - especially considering the Lord Advocate's close involvement in the preparation for those cases.

Liam Kerr raises the issue of RAAC-affected homes in Aberdeen, with people being "out of pocket, out of their homes and out of options".

The Tory MSP asks the first minister to step in to help these residents affected by potentially dangerous concrete in there homes - or will he duck responsibility?

Swinney says these are complex issues and the minister for housing has met with council leaders to discuss this issue and will do so again.

Conservative MSP Liz Smith asks the first minister for a response on the reported use of Hikvision CCTV devices by local authorities in Scotland.

Smith says the first minister is well aware of previous concerns about Hikvision cameras being used in Chinese state surveillance, including in detention camps.

She says Chinese intelligence law would allow companies like Hikvision to hand over information to the Chinese government and asks Swinney to confirm where decommissioning of these cameras have taken place, especially concerning schools and police.

The first minister says he is aware some CCTV used by local authorities may contain Hikvision components but that any decision on these devices are for individual councils to make.

Swinney says while all Hikvision cameras in the Scottish government estate was decommissioned last year, local authorities are not obliged to follow suit.

He says he cannot compel but will "invite" engagement from local authorities to share where decommissioning of the cameras has been carried out and whether there is more the government can do to "better align" the activities of all public authorities in Scotland.

Jeremy Balfour gets to his feet with a follow-up question as he points out pensioners are facing freezing temperatures this winter.

The Tory MSP accuses the SNP of trying to hoodwink pensioners by pretending they brought back the full payment for next year when they have not done this.

He argues the SNP and Labour governments have let thousands of pensioners go cold this winter.

The FM hits back, pointing out the Tories want tax cuts but also want more money for winter fuel payments.

John Swinney says there is not a scrap of cohesion from the Tories and he says his Budget will restore a winter fuel payment for all pensioner households in 2025/26.

SNP MSP Clare Haughey asks the first minister for an update on how low income households will be helped with energy bills amid recent cold weather.

She also raises the UK Labour government's election promises to cut energy bills by £200 while two price hikes have come into effect since they took power, as well as removing the winter fuel payment.

Swinney says the Scottish government will spend over £65m across three winter heating benefits, providing "vital" support to over 630,000 Scots.

He says the investment will help households save over £400 per year on average with their heating bills.

The first minister says the Scottish government is also spending £154m on activities to mitigate UK government policies.

He adds: "We might have had an expectation of change from an incoming Labour government and that many of these issues we're mitigating because of the callousness of the Conservatives would have been removed by a Labour government, but they've just carried on."

The first minister answers: "No newborn baby should be born dependent on substances."

He says these are issues that can be discussed further and the health secretary will address them.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

It's now the turn of Alex Cole-Hamilton to put his questions to the first minister.

The Scottish Lib Dems leader says since 2017 at least 1,500 babies have been born with neonatal abstinence syndrome showing signs of drug addiction.

"Does the first minister agree that these interventions require more government money and more certainty, because we need to stop people dying and we need to do more to help these babies, who spend the first days of their lives addicted to drugs?"

Trading barbs about the need for changepublished at 12:32 Greenwich Mean Time 9 January

12:32 GMT 9 January

Philip Sim
BBC Scotland political correspondent

Labour’s announcement this week that they would not vote against the budget was based on the fact Anas Sarwar would rather not continue to have a debate about it.

The two-child cap policy caught Labour on the back foot, and John Swinney clearly wants to capitalise on it for as long as possible.

Mr Sarwar sought to return to familiar territory; highlighting issues in the NHS, and arguing that Scotland needs a change of government to protect services.

As is common, he brought along a case study of a patient let down over the festive period, forcing the first minister to confront a real citizen rather than engage in a party-political ding-dong.

But the rhetoric was still pretty sharp by the end of the exchanges. Mr Swinney was not to be deterred in getting in mention of his budget, and the two leaders traded barbs about the need for change, and what Labour has delivered at Westminster.

It’s very similar to the exchanges that we heard through the latter portion of 2024 – and they will likely continue right through to 2026.

Image source, Getty Images

The Scottish Labour leader has resumed his focus on the health service after the Scottish Government admitted the NHS faces "very high levels of pressure" with an increase in people presenting with flu symptoms at A&E.

Health Secretary Neil Gray says the sustained pressure facing the NHS is "not unique to Scotland" but acknowledged it "is not at the level that we wish to see".

New data shows in the final week of 2024, 58.4% of patients were seen and either admitted, transferred, or discharged within the Scottish Government's target time of four hours.

Earlier, Gray told parliament 1.2m Scots had been vaccinated against the influenza A virus by 15 December.

But latest figures from Public Health Scotland show hospital admissions caused by flu have fallen 36% in a week with 1,021 people taken to hospital in the first week in January.

The number of patients in England continues to rise with NHS England averaging 5,407 a day - up 4,500 from the week prior.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

Swinney apologises to the patient, Robert, and his family on their experience.

He acknowledges people may not have had the experience they should have had at NHS hospitals but the pressure the service is facing must be considered.

He once again praises staff for going "out of their way" to do their best for patients despite "colossal" demand.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

Sarwar says people across the Scotland are paying the price for "SNP failure", raising the case of a retired police officer who, he says, had to attend A&E and lie on the floor for over five hours at a Wishaw hospital before receiving medication.

He says Scots who have worked hard all of their lives deserve better and quotes a family member of the patient who says the SNP "couldn't run a bath, never mind the NHS".

The first minister acknowledges the pressure facing the NHS in recent weeks, with winter flu placing "very high demands" on services.

He says the statistics are an indication of the severity of the flu virus but "thankfully" admissions have now fallen.

Swinney emphasises his thanks to healthcare workers for their hard work over the period, allowing the NHS to handle the "largest level of pressure since 2010".

Now it's the turn of Scottish Labour to question the first minister, and Anas Sarwar turns to healthcare.

He says instead of heeding his warnings in October last year, the SNP "buried their head in the sand".

Sarwar says over Christmas, 1,642 people waited over 12 hours in A&E, ambulances were put on red alert and hospitals under severe pressure due to a winter flu wave.

He asks the first minister if these figures are an indication the SNP are "taking Scotland in the wrong direction".

The buzzword of the day is....populistpublished at 12:18 Greenwich Mean Time 9 January

12:18 GMT 9 January

Philip Sim
BBC Scotland political correspondent

“Populist” seems to be the buzzword of the day in politics, with every party accusing each other of being guilty of it.

Russell Findlay and John Swinney both claimed the other was peddling easy answers and over-the-top arguments.

The Tories are in a fairly easy position when it comes to the budget; in opposition at both Holyrood and Westminster, they are free to criticise from the sidelines. As expected, Mr Findlay found a way of taking shots at both the SNP and Labour.

Mr Swinney meanwhile said he does not take any votes for granted yet – which is fair enough given things can always change, but it’s also true that he would like to continue with his plan to talk about the budget for the six weeks or so until those votes are cast.

He sees the plans as a good sell to the public ahead of an election - and also as a decent stick to beat Labour with.

"The government's tax proposals will not change from what's in the Budget," replies the FM.

Swinney adds the government's door remains open for dialogue with opposition party leaders.

The Scottish Tory leader argues: "This Budget is not a turning point."

He asks if this is not just more populist nonsense.

The FM calls for "cool heads" to secure agreement on the Budget.

Swinney says he is engaged in constructive discussions with opposition parties to secure a parliamentary majority and progress for Scotland.

"Labour has folded and the Budget will pass," argues Findlay.

He accuses Labour of helping the SNP and asks if Swinney can rule out any new taxes demanded by the Greens.

What's behind Sarwar's Budget call?published at 12:12 Greenwich Mean Time 9 January

12:12 GMT 9 January

Glenn Campbell
BBC Scotland Political Editor

Image source, PA Media

Labour has - more or less - ended fears that the Scottish Budget could fall.

Its decision to abstain in the parliamentary votes ensures the Scottish government has enough political clout to get its tax and spending plans through.

Unless Labour has a sudden change of heart before the final vote at the end of February, this debate is over.

The first minister's dire warnings of damaging financial and political consequences of a failure to get a budget through no longer require serious concern.

The NHS is not going to be starved of additional investment and public sector pay rises should happen as promised.

To be fair, John Swinney himself said he was confident of securing a deal. The expectation was that it would be with at least one of the smaller parties, the Greens or the Liberal Democrats.

That may still happen.

Read more of Glenn's analysis here.