Parties must now remember their priority is people

Fervent strategising is no doubt happening in the halls and offices of Holyrood at this very moment, but of the kind intended to save individual skins rather than bolster a country. The sudden scrapping of the Bute House Agreement earlier in the week brought an abrupt end to the SNPScottish Greens government coalition, an uneasy marriage that ultimately lasted less than three years.

With backing from the Greens, the Scottish Conservatives saw an opportunity to table a vote of no-confidence in First Minister Humza Yousaf, to take place next week. Scottish Labour swiftly followed suit with its own motion of no-confidence in the Scottish Government as a whole.

Chaos and drama abound – but Scotland’s politicians would do well to keep one foot firmly planted on the ground. This country urgently needs stable leadership, focused on improving the everyday lives as well as the future prospects of its citizens.

Yet, day after day, energy is wasted on political rivalries and infighting when it should be invested in positive action the length and breadth of Scotland.

Government ministers and those in opposition must remember they attend parliament to represent those who voted for them – they are not the star turn.

What happens next at Holyrood is difficult to say but, away from it, little has changed. The cost of living remains high, while quality of life has decreased drastically for many.

Countless vital public services are at breaking point, from health and social care to education and transport. Problems that affect the whole of Scotland are particularly acute in the north, such as high energy prices and the serious lack of available housing.

And, of course, this fine part of the world has its own issues to contend with, such as the dangerous A9 and A96 roads, and the future of the energy industry, which currently provides so many local jobs.

There is no politician in Scotland, nor on the planet, who could fix things and get the country back on track overnight. But, after so much politicial turbulence on top of economic uncertainty, the people who live here deserve a government truly ready and willing to try.

Whether the make-up of the Scottish Government remains the same or is entirely changed once the dust settles, it will still find itself with the same simple aim: to help Scotland prosper.

That means confronting issues, not hiding from them; taking responsibility rather than passing the buck. Shock and scandal have become synonymous with the SNP over the last year, but there is little more insultingly scandalous than the lack of attention paid to Scotland’s communities, crying out for assistance.