Scotland’s Draft Budget for 2025/26, which was published yesterday, signals a welcome change in tone from the Scottish Government.

It heralds a reset in both messaging and action coming from the Swinney and Forbes administration, which sets a foundation of growth built around infrastructure investment, centred on housing and renewables.

The Budget includes proposals for £768 million of investment in affordable housing, and around £7 billion in overall infrastructure investment, including £150 million for offshore wind, with a stated mission of driving forward a green industrial revolution.

For Scotland to protect our communities and drive jobs in the construction sector, we need more of this type of policy.

Bottom-up growth, in our forgotten former industrial heartlands, will kick-start a long overdue economic recovery and I welcome the £62 million in funding pledged for town centre regeneration.

The Budget proposals are a start, but we now need to see quick delivery and more proactive solutions to support SMEs and our young people in schools, with Enterprise and Entrepreneurship courses being added to the curriculum.

Finance Secretary Shona Robison began her Budget statement at Holyrood by saying it was about “bringing hope to people”.

That is a sentiment I wholeheartedly endorse. Giving hope to individuals and communities that their lives can be made better should always be a central purpose of our Government and our national Parliament.

Today we have more hope than yesterday, but it is now time for grown up politics in the interests of our country.

That means compromises will inevitably be needed for the Budget to be passed early next year.

All sides should now engage constructively in that process with the intention of seeing it passed – because the public and businesses would not look kindly on politicians or parties who sought to play political games which risk instability and uncertainty.