Holyrood 437 / 13 January 2020

The annual Economy Issue including interview with Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Derek Mackay and budget delays and working with the UK Government

3 Editor’s note: Waking up in 2020 after the usual festive bender with a banging head...Dull brain, dry mouth and the creeping FEAR

6 Roundup: Pictures and numbers from the past two weeks

9 Talking Point: Czechs are figuring out what to do when a prime minister keeps saying ‘no’

10 In Context: Reasons for licencing of travelling funfairs to be simplified

11 Political Spotlight: Labour leadership. If Labour is to survive then it needs to learn to adapt to the post referendum landscape

13 Overview: Economy & Budget. The delay to the UK budget will cause a severe knock-on effect in Scotland at a time of economic challenge

18 Interview: Derek Mackay The Cabinet Secretary for Finance on budget delays and working with the UK Government

24 Focus: Workforce - Special feature with Caledonian MacBrayne

26 Focus: Innovation - Special feature with Edinburgh Innovations

30 #Holyroodbaby: Kirsty at 4 - As the Holyrood baby approaches her fourth birthday, how does policy align with reality?

33 Regions: Central Scotland - Central Scotland is capitalising on its past to create new opportunities

36 Getting to Know You: Scottish Parliament head of visitor services Gordon Stewart introduces some parly ghosts

38 Comment: Dani Garavelli: When it comes to climate change, we must not give in to defeatism

40 Diary: Drugs, food festishes, grinders, bats and British bulldogs

42 Last Word: Sketch: If it’s weirdos Dominic Cummings is after then he should have come to Scotland