FMQs: 'Give 'em the money, Nicola!'

Richard Leonard made his debut as Labour leader at first minister's questions

Game shows, Kezia Dugdale et al, are currently contentious. That is perhaps why my thoughts meandered towards another of the genre as I witnessed Holyrood exchanges today.

This particular programme was a favourite of my father's. And, as far as I am aware, no pond life or insects were harmed in its production.

The show? Have a Go, starring the estimable Wilfred Pickles. Contestants, apparently, could earn £1 / 18s / 6d or thereabouts (ask your parent or perhaps grandparent) by talking about their lives.

And the reason for these diversionary thoughts? I couldn't help thinking of Wilfred's catch-phrase, regularly and enthusiastically quoted by my old man.

"Give 'im the money, Mabel!" Pickles would declare, as he rewarded another lucky contestant.

Now perhaps Richard Leonard has unwittingly absorbed some of the style of his fellow Yorkshireman (Pickles, that is, not Taylor père who was from Angus).

But there was more than a touch of "give 'em the money, Mabel" about Mr Leonard's contribution today, his first at FMQs as leader.

• Look back on FMQs on Holyrood Live

He brandished a leaflet from a delegation which had been lobbying Parliament, demanding "no more cuts" to the fire service.

He extended that to encompass the issue of constraint in other public services. Mr Leonard's argument was voluble, passionate and popular with his team. But, in truth, it seldom strayed beyond that elemental slogan of "no more cuts."

There was, for example, no indication as to how, precisely, Labour would fund the increase in public expenditure which Mr Leonard was advocating.

To be fair, he is new. Speaking to other MSPs, one heard sympathy voiced. Was the approach simplistic? Perhaps - but, as one MSP suggested to me, Mr Leonard's primary concern was to avoid "messing it up" on his first outing. Only he didn't say messing.

Another suggested that he was presenting his fundamental standpoint. There he was, day one, defending the workforce, advancing a trade union cause.

Nicola Sturgeon had robust exchanges with Ruth Davidson

He was, if you like, presenting his credentials - like a new Ambassador to the Court of St James's. Viewed in that light, Mr Leonard's contribution was a success. There could be no doubt as to his point of principle, if the detail on tax remains a little opaque.

It perhaps didn't help Mr Leonard that he was followed fairly swiftly by Patrick Harvie of the Greens - who, in a shorter time, provided ample detail of his thinking on LBTT property tax and on income tax (radical change, protect the poorest, soak the rich).

Still, Mr Harvie is obliged to pay particularly close attention to such matters right now because it seems likely that his party will be the main ministerial target for a deal to secure the Scottish Budget's passage through Holyrood.

And Nicola Sturgeon's response? She engaged in the detail with Patrick Harvie. The Green co-convener had urged her not to change LBTT in line with the alterations announced by the Chancellor for stamp duty, the equivalent tax in England.

Philip Hammond is exempting most first time house buyers. In response to Mr Harvie, Ms Sturgeon suggested that the Scottish property tax scheme is already relatively generous to those seeking a foot on the ladder.

Didn't sound like she was ready to sanction a substantial change in LBTT. Still, it has already come under considerable, indeed sustained, criticism from the Conservatives - so a review will be undertaken.

Many of the exchanges were based around Philip Hammond's budget

Dealing with Mr Leonard, Ms Sturgeon appeared to be treading warily, as if trying to get the measure of him.

That plus the fact that he was citing the heroism of firefighters. Ms Sturgeon duly - and sincerely - joined in. She did, however, suggest that Mr Leonard might usefully acknowledge that the budget for the fire service had increased in the current year.

In essence, they were testing each other, prior to engaging at a later date.

There were no such reservations in the exchanges between the FM and Ruth Davidson of the Tories. This was more like a well-rehearsed flyting, with ritual insults and barbed comments.

The topic? Scottish public spending in the aftermath of the UK Budget. Ms Sturgeon noted sharply that more than half the two billion quid coming Scotland's way over four years was devoted to financial transactions, such as loans for private housing or business developments.

These, she said, would not assist the Scottish government in protecting day to day spending. There would be limited discretion available to Scottish ministers. And the money had to be paid back eventually to the Treasury.

In response, Ms Davidson deployed some rather deft irony. More money for housing? The brutes! Investment in Scotland? Infamy! She accused the FM of hypocrisy, arguing that Scottish ministers were content to trumpet financial transactions when these were Scottish-announced investments.

Ms Sturgeon, needless to say, was scarcely flummoxed. The Chancellor's budget was a con. And, if Ruth Davidson swallowed it, then she was a "stooge" of the Westminster Tories.

These were powerful exchanges. But, in truth, just a warm up for the big fight to come - when Scottish income tax plans are announced by the Finance Secretary Derek Mackay in three weeks time as part of his Budget.