Blog: The Kezia Dugdale voting debacle

It's embarrassing for Labour leader Kezia Dugdale that - one way or the other - her vote did not register tonight.

Had her vote counted then the SNP government would have been defeated over its plans to reform the council tax.

Ms Dugdale is absolutely adamant that she voted, and speaking to ITV Representing Border she demanded parliamentary authorities investigate.

They've done so, very quickly and say there is nothing wrong with the electronic push button voting system at Holyrood.

But let's step back a little.

Had Ms Dugdale's vote registered the SNP would have suffered a setback in terms of parliament on its policy.

The embarrassment would have been the SNP's and not Ms Dugdale's.

However, the vote was just on a parliamentary motion, not on legislation so even if the SNP had been defeated nothing would have changed.

So as things stand the Nationalist's relatively modest plans for those in higher value homes to pay more in council tax remain.

The question is whether they might be defeated in future on the substance of reforms.

For that to happen all of the opposition parties would once again have to join forces, with everyone's vote registering.

You never know in politics, strange alliances can sometimes be forged, but it is difficult to see how the Tories, Labour, and the Greens could agree on substantial reforms to the council tax.

The Tories plans are even more modest than the SNP's with just increases in the top two bands.

Labour and the Greens want to go much further with those in larger properties ending up paying quite a bit more.

Would the Tories ever vote for that kind of policy? Well, no.

This evening's vote does though illustrate the fact the SNP does not have an overall parliamentary majority.

And it could be that if they are wise they may perhaps - perhaps - move somewhat on their plans to ensure they get through.

In which direction? Well, the most obvious one would be in the direction of the Greens with whom they can combine to get a majority in Holyrood.

That possibility - and it is just a possibility - is for another day.

For now, the SNP will be breathing a huge sign of relief and trying to maximise the embarrassment suffered by Ms Dugdale and minimise their own.