BOTH Westminster and Holyrood are currently in recess following Christmas and New Year.
It was an eventful 2022 which seen the resignation of two prime ministers in Liz Truss and Boris Johnson.
Meanwhile, Scotland passed the Gender Recognition Reform Bill following marathon debates while Douglas Ross flip-flopped on the disastrous mini-Budget.
READ MORE: Fewer Scots earning below real living wage than UK counterparts
It seems as though 2023 will be another eventful year in politics. Here is when both parliaments are set to reconvene and an idea of what might be discussed upon returning.
When does Holyrood return?
According to the Scottish Parliament’s website, the final day of recess will be January 8, meaning business is likely to resume as normal on January 9.
During periods of recess, there are normally no meetings in the chamber and no committee meetings.
However, MSPs are still usually in their local areas and available to deal with any constituency matters.
When does Westminster return?
Like Holyrood, business in Westminster won’t return until January 9.
Anyone who tunes into the news in the morning will have noticed there have been no ministers doing the usual media rounds.
Politico reports that, although parliament isn’t sitting again until next Monday, there is likely to be a government media round again from Tuesday, January 3.
What’s on the agenda?
For both the UK and Scottish Government the biggest issue likely to be discussed is strike action.
Rishi Sunak continues to come under pressure on the NHS with few signs that the walkouts planned this month across the health service and rail lines will be called off.
Mick Lynch, general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union (RMT), today accused the UK Government of being an “obstacle rather than a facilitator” to a deal being struck.
In Scotland, teaching strikes are set to take place in January while, at the end of December, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) rejected the Scottish Government’s pay offer.
The RCN is yet to announce dates for strike action.
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