The SNP faces internal turmoil as more members step down, while Nicola Sturgeon insists she couldn't have acted differently.
Her former deputy and now FM, John Swinney, has struck a deal with the Lib Dems that excludes spending on independence initiatives to secure their support for the budget.
Additionally, Swinney has made a major agreement with the City of London, raising concerns about selling off more of Scotland.
Meanwhile, Stewart McDonald and Jeanne Freeman have been discussing possible pacts with Labour, suggesting a lack of commitment to a pro-independence alliance for the 2026 election