The first FMQs of 2026 draws to a close. Here's a reminder of the key lines that emerged today:

• Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay began by attacking Justice Secretary Angela Constance but pivoted to calling for a cut to income tax
• The first minister argued more Scottish tax payers will pay less income tax than the rest of the UK this year
• Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar focused on the "damning " delayed discharge report from Audit Scotland which revealed that NHS Scotland spent £440m a year on the issue
• John Swinney insisted he welcomed the report which highlights that it only affects 3% of people treated in hospital
• Alex Cole-Hamilton, the Scottish Liberal Democrat leader, also focused on delayed discharges, focusing on a patient who has been in hospital for more than 400 days waiting for a care package
• The FM accepted the challenge they face is the availability of carers
• In the final question of the session Mercedes Villalba asked if the FM had prior knowledge that Wick was to be used in the US action on a Venezuelan oil tanker
• The FM explains he had no knowledge ahead of the action, but added he was a "firm supporter" of sanctions against Russia over Ukraine being enforced

That's all from the live page team today, thank you for joining us. We'll be back with extensive reporting and analysis of the all-important Scottish government budget on Tuesday afternoon, so please join us for that. Craig Williams was today's editor. Craig Hutchison and Rachel Grant were the writers, assisted by Molly Henry.

FM is 'firm supporter' of sanctions applied to Russia,published at 13:05 GMT 8 January

13:05 GMT 8 January

Phil Sim
Scotland political correspondent

The final question of the day saw the first minister called onto the international stage, with the story of the Russian-flagged tanker seized by the US in waters between Scotland and Iceland.

The Greens have described the move as "piracy" and Labour MSP Mercedes Villalba raised it in the context of US moves in Venezuela.

But the first minister was quite firm that these topics should not be mixed up. While the tanker was originally bound for the South American country, there is a broader issue of efforts to crack down on sanctions-busting on oil.

And Swinney was clear that he is a "firm supporter" of sanctions applied to Russia, particularly in the context of the war in Ukraine.

His government was not made aware of how Wick airport was involved, or whether the planes which landed there took part in the operation, simply noting that the site is regularly used for refuelling.

But by the sounds of things, he wouldn't have had any problem with it if he had been given advance notice of the government-owned facility being involved in any operation.

Image source, X/Reuters

Military aircraft landed at a small civilian airport in the Highlands before flying north during a US Coast Guard operation to board a Russia-bound tanker in the North Atlantic.

The Marinera has been accused by the US of breaking its sanctions on the shipping of Iranian oil, and historically the vessel has transported Venezuelan crude oil.

BBC Scotland News understands at least three US Air Force planes - U-28A Dracos - took off from RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk and landed at Wick John O'Groats Airport at about 11:00 before leaving at about midday.

The UK's Ministry of Defence (MoD) said Royal Navy tanker RFA Tideforce and RAF surveillance aircraft supported the US operation.

Read more here.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

Labour's Mercedes Villalba says reports that Wick airport was used in US action on a Venezuelan oil tanker heading to Russia in the North Atlantic are "alarming".

She asks if Swinney had prior knowledge of the operation, and for assurance that the government-owned infrastructure was not being used as a "staging post to violate international law".

Swinney says he has no knowledge about whether the aircraft were involved in the initiative.

He adds that the airport is regularly used for refuelling for journeys across the Atlantic into the Arctic.

And he finishes by saying he is a firm supporter of sanctions against Russia over Ukraine being enforced.

Image source, Getty Images

Tory MSP Liam Kerr reminds the FM that on Tuesday he asked what support could be given to the north and north-east during this period of extreme weather.

Recovery efforts are now well under way in the north of Scotland after a week of severe snow, despite a fresh warning of low temperatures and more snow.

Kerr says councils could share resources, or the military could be called out to help.

The first minister says he recognises the severity of the issues the severe weather has caused.

He adds there has been mutual aid put in place by local authorities in the north and north-east.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

Conservative MSP Douglas Lumsden commends strike action by STV staff on Wednesday over cuts to their news bulletin from the north of Scotland.

He asks whether Swinney can put pressure on STV and Ofcom to maintain this dedicated news service.

Swinney says the government and company have been "in dialogue" and he agrees about the importance of the "distinctive news output".

Weather conditions in recent days have made Lumsden's point about the need for a distinct service, he adds.

SNP MSP Jackie Dunbar asks if they can urge STV to think again.

Swinney says he will and there will be renewed representations to STV and Ofcom.

Scottish Labour's Jackie Baillie asks what action the Scottish government is taking following reports that the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital released the wrong body for cremation.

Scotland's largest hospital has apologised after a bereaved family was given the wrong body for a cremation ceremony.

"I'm deeply concerned by the situation and extend my sympathies to the families affected," replies the first minister.

Baillie calls for the publication of the investigation report by the Inspector of Burials, Cremations and Funeral Directors and she asks why the Scottish government has been so slow in bringing forward regulations.

The FM says he will explore whether the report can be published and he accepts the importance of public confidence.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

Pam Gosal raises the increase in reported domestic abuse in the past year.

The Conservative MSP says the 66,000 incidents were just the tip of the iceberg, with many cases unreported.

She asks if the First Minister will support her bill to prevent abuse happening the fist place.

Swinney says the increase in reports and successful prosecution show how seriously it is taken by the government.

"I am at one with Pam Gosal," he says, but disagrees that her bill would be effective.

He says the are "very strong arrangements" already in place to protect victims to tackle the "heinous" crime.

Focus of FM is on independencepublished at 12:40 GMT 8 January

12:40 GMT 8 January

Philip Sim
BBC Scotland political correspondent

A frequent feature of FMQs under John Swinney’s leadership of the SNP has been a backbench question teeing up an attack on Labour’s record at Westminster.

It’s always instructive to see which issues the first minister wants to bring up and what arguments he wants to throw in the direction of his opponents.

Today, those arguments were about independence, with two different SNP members helpfully inviting Swinney to say Scotland would be better off under different constitutional arrangements.

We know that he wants to secure an SNP majority to try to secure a fresh referendum, and tactically he may as well lean into the issue given polling suggests pro-independence sentiment remains more popular than his party.

The fact the SNP is already pushing the topic forward in parliament lends further support to the idea that independence is going to play a central role in the party’s campaign.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

The Scottish Lib Dem leader says: "Scotland deserves better than this."

Cole-Hamilton explains that is why his party have made care a priority in its discussions over the Scottish budget.

It's been 10 years since Shona Robison promised to get rid of delayed discharges all together, he says.

The care bottleneck is costing the NHS nearly £1.2m a day, he says, but the cost to Margaret is incalculable.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

John Swinney highlights budget decisions that have been taken to expand social care.

He welcomes the budget negotiations, with the big day coming next Tuesday.

The FM again says he has taken steps to make sure more immigrants can work in the care sector.

The first minister says he is sorry to hear the circumstances of this case and he accepts the challenge is the availability of carers.

Swinney adds there must be a constructive approach to migration issues to help boost the rural population.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

Alex Cole-Hamilton is next to have a tilt at the FM and he argues Swinney is playing down the problem of delayed discharges,

He says Swinney should tell that to those waiting for an ambulance or in A&E on a trolley and those whose operations have been cancelled.

The Scottish Lib Dem leader highlights the case of 62-year-old Margaret McGill, who has been in hospital for more than 400 days.

He adds this is due to a lack of carers and asks "what is it going to take to get Margaret home?"

Do Sarwar and Swinney exchanges set the tone for the election?published at 12:35 GMT 8 January

12:35 GMT 8 January

Philip Sim
BBC Scotland political correspondent

Anas Sarwar’s efforts over the remaining 12 weeks of the parliamentary term will be all about trying to reverse the current standings - so that after May, it’s him taking questions from John Swinney.

As ever, the principle argument he is putting forward towards that end is about the SNP’s stewardship of the NHS, as a case study for public services more broadly.

And on equally familiar ground, Swinney had a response rooted in data, with the first minister pointing to waiting times statistics as evidence that services are turning the corner.

Perhaps the most striking thing was the rather personal tone of these exchanges, with each man accusing the other of “talking rubbish” and “not living in the real world”.

Sarwar has called for head to head debates between the two in the runup to the election, and this might have been an early taste of that kind of confrontation.

Sarwar claims Scotland "is not safe in the SNP's hands", and says it can get rid of the "useless" government in four months' time.

He raises former SNP Health Minister Alex Neil's recent claims that hospitals were in "deep crisis", saying Swinney was "talking rubbish".

The first minister says the NHS is making the recovery it needs to make from the Covid panic.

He also retorts that Sarwar described the very MP he urged people to elect last year as "idiots".

"He's not living in the real world," he adds.

Sarwar points out that Swinney "promised to eradicate delayed discharge a decade ago".

He says this is proof that Swinney is "out of touch and out of time" and adds that waiting lists are too long and staff feel unsupported.

The first minister says the report makes clear there needs to be the "deepest level of integration" between the health and social care services.

He accuses the Labour Party of refusing to support the government's proposed National Care Service, which aimed to fix that.

Swinney says Sarwar doesn’t know if waiting lists are going up or coming down and "makes it up as he goes along".

Image source, Scottish Parliament

Anas Sarwar stands up and raises his concerns about delayed discharges from Scottish hospitals.

This follows the new report from Audit Scotland and the Accounts Commission which says NHS Scotland spent £440m last year on beds for patients who were unable to get out of hospital but were medically ready to leave.

Sarwar says the 720,000 bed-days lost in hospital last year is the "real life consequence" of 20 years of John Swinney and the SNP.

Swinney says he welcomes the report, which highlights that it only affects 3% of people treated in hospital, although there were "complex challenges" to be addressed.

The Scottish Tory leader says he believes workers should keep more of their hard earned money.

Swinney details improvements in the NHS and says these are due to the plans he's put in place.

He highlights the introduction of the Scottish Child Payment and the improvements in child poverty levels.

The first minister replies that for six months in a row long waits in our NHS are falling.

The delayed discharge report from Audit Scotland demonstrates the need to work with local authorities to tackle the issue, he says.

Swinney says Findlay's tax cut proposals also involve cutting public spending by £1bn.

Image source, Getty Images

NHS Scotland spent £440m last year on beds for patients who were unable to get out of hospital despite being ready to be discharged, according to public spending watchdogs.

The report from the Audit Scotland and the Accounts Commission said one in nine hospital beds were occupied because of delayed discharges in the 12 months to April 2025.

It said the Scottish government must set out a plan to tackle the problem.

Health Secretary Neil Gray said money was being invested but that more must be done to ensure people receive "the care they need in the right place, at the right time".

Read more here.