Who will strike deal with SNP to pass Scottish budget?

With the Scottish budget just over a week away, SNP ministers are still hunting for the perfect deal with political opponents that could avoid a snap election.

Rivals of the SNP are now setting out their 'red lines' - the issues that will prevent them from passing the December 4 budget.

But that doesn't mean it is an easy road ahead for the finance secretary.

Compromises are going to have to be made that the Scottish Government could not have seen coming just a few months ago.

The SNP's Holyrood group only has 62 MSPs, and if you consider expelled John Mason will back his former party, the government needs at least two votes to pass the budget.

What are the deals parties in Holyrood are trying to broker in exchange for their support?

It looks pretty unlikely the SNP will be able to strike a deal with either Labour or the Tories.

Tory leader Russell Findlay has called for a 100% rates relief for pubs and restaurants. But that is a pledge even the Tories know the SNP won't be able to commit to.

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Labour have been pretty coy on their budget 'red lines', likely because mountains would need to be moved before a deal could be agreed with the SNP.

Anas Sarwar's party is forcing a vote in Holyrood next month urging the SNP to bring back universal winter fuel payments. 

Winter fuel payments has been described as an essential ask by Alba's Ash Regan. As the party's sole MSP, her vote can't save the budget on it's own anyway but she could put ministers a step closer.

The most likely government deals come from the Scottish Greens and the Lib Dems.

Despite the shattering of the Bute House Agreement, the Greens have signalled they would be willing to call the shots on next week's budget.

Shona Robison, the finance secretary, has already signalled she will consider scrapping the controversial council tax freeze – a red line for the Greens – to pass the budget.

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Independence spending has also been described as a key issue for the Scottish Greens. But if SNP ministers commit to this, support from pro-Union parties, including the Lib Dems will be withdrawn.

The door is open for talks with the Scottish Government, the party’s leader Alex Cole-Hamilton has said. But not if a single penny is spent on independence.

Cole-Hamilton said at the weekend the Lib Dems could abstain to allow the budget to pass without enough opposition. One of the major obstacles in securing a budget deal has been removed when ministers shelved the National Care Service bill.

Next week is a major obstacle for the SNP. It is the first time this parliamentary session that ministers will deliver a budget without majority support.

The compromises they make with political opponents will have repercussions from voters but a saving grace for the SNP is that almost none of the political parties in Holyrood would welcome an early election.