Our Politics newsletter is now daily. Join thousands of others and get the latest Scottish politics news sent straight to your inbox. Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Councils have been sounding the alarm for years about the scale of cuts they have to make.

And with every rotten budget, the savings get harder to find.

Public spending watchdogs now warn some councils are on course to wipe out their savings.

This isn’t a distant prediction, it’s a financial calamity only two to three years down the line.

The SNP Government say they’ve been as fair as they can.

It’s true, there isn’t a massive amount of cash to go around. But even at this late stage the Government still count council tax increases as part of their overall available funds.

It’s a neat trick, but it doesn’t hide the fact that central funds are down.

Budget negotiations are getting closer.

And all sides are going to have to think hard about the way Scots are taxed and services are funded.

Everyone wants some cash squirrelled away for a rainy day.

But it looks increasingly like councils should have been preparing for a perfect storm.

(Image: SWNS.com)

Bring them home

Fours years after being sent to an Indian jail, the Chennai Six have been found not guilty.

That’s four years of emotional torture for them and their families, including 37-year-old Billy Irving from Connel, near Oban.

He was one of six Brits held on charges of taking weapons into Indian waters.

In all, 35 men were put behind bars.

The verdict is a fantastic relief but their fight isn’t over.

The law of the land says authorities could still appeal – tying up the whole process even further.

Justice is only half served. For their sake, let’s hope they’re all back with their families in time for Christmas.

(Image: REX/Shutterstock)

Couple of positives

Long dark nights, miserable weather and the prospect of economic destruction.

Thankfully, there’s now a couple who’ve managed to bring a smile to everyone’s faces through the gloom.

Yes, a heartfelt thank you to Ant and Dec for helping us through the misery.

Oh ... and Harry and Meghan are all right, too.