Image source, Scottish Parliament

Russell Findlay gets to his feet again and says Swinney is the leader of "Scotland's populist party".

The Scottish Tory leader adds: "John Swinney sounds like a serial arsonist suddenly warning people about the risk of fire.

"Despite his ridiculous rhetoric, his Budget will pass because of the votes of Anas Sarwar's Labour."

He asks what sweeteners the FM had to give to Labour, who have said they will abstain from the vote and therefore see it being passed.

"I can see the shadowy face of populism right in front of me just now," hits back Swinney.

The FM says the Budget is worth supporting and he calls on Findlay to "come to his senses" and back it.

Russell Findlay reminds the chamber John Swinney said if his budget was not passed it would play into the hands of Elon Musk.

The Scottish Conservative leader accuses Swinney of being a populist first minister and says he has made "ludicrous" claims such as this.

John Swinney is sitting in the hot-seat ready and Russell Findlay gets to his feet to begin this first FMQs of 2025.

Eyes are already fixed on the 2026 prizepublished at 11:54 Greenwich Mean Time 9 January

11:54 GMT 9 January

Philip Sim
BBC Scotland political correspondent

Holyrood is back in session for 2025 – but a lot of the political narrative is likely to throw ahead to the following year, with eyes already fixed on the 2026 elections.

We might have expected to start the year with a bit of drama over the budget, as John Swinney’s minority administration seeks a deal to pass its tax and spending plans.

Indeed the government has planned a series of engagements to try to swing the public behind the proposals, to put pressure on opposition parties to back it.

But the air has rather been let out of the balloon by Labour’s early announcement that they will at least abstain – meaning the plans are sure to pass.

It’s likely the Tories will find a campaign point to latch onto in that announcement, given their goal of remaining the principal party of opposition at Holyrood. Russell Findlay will doubtless cry that Labour is failing to stand up to the SNP.

But Labour will hope that taking the immediate question of finances off the agenda will leave them free to focus on those 2026 polls.

So it may well be more of the same from Anas Sarwar – latching onto questions around the SNP’s delivery of public services, and making an argument for change.

Mr Swinney will still be keen to bring matters back to the budget wherever possible, given he feels it’s put the SNP back on the front foot in its tussle with Labour.

There will doubtless be plenty of twists and turns to come in 2025 – but many at Holyrood are already thinking chiefly about what it means for 2026.

Holyrood returned this week and the year got off to a busy start.

The Scottish government's Budget looks set to pass after Labour leader Anas Sarwar said his party would abstain from the Holyrood vote.

Ostensibly this means there is no jeapordy in the remaining Budget process, unlike the usual political wrangling right up to the wire.

Elsewhere, First Minister John Swinney apologised "unreservedly" to islanders affected by delays in building two ferries to serve off Scotland's west coast.

It also emerged Scotland's NHS is facing "very high levels of winter pressure" after an increase in flu cases.

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA

Welcome to our live coverage of the first FMQs of 2025.

John Swinney will face questions from Russell Findlay, Anas Sarwar and Alex Cole-Hamilton this week.

As ever we'll bring you reports, background posts and analysis from our political correspondents.

You can watch events from the Holyrood chamber from 12:00 by clicking on the Watch Live icon at the top of the page.