What calculations will Scotland’s parties make in Election 2024?

Scotland’s business sector is diverse. But it tends to want capital projects that help get goods to and from market, a good system for training recruits, it would prefer workers to be healthy and not on waiting lists, and either lower taxes, reform of taxes or both, starting with business rates.

You could say that doesn’t matter: businesses don’t vote. But business figures can have an influence. So Labour has 120 signatories to a letter backing it as the credible challenger to the Tories.

Signatories are mostly from a narrow range of sectors; technology, creatives, boutique finance and entrepreneurs. Few now represent big business, which has good reason to keep clear of party endorsements.

Among the few notable Scots on the list are Iain Anderson, founder of public affairs consultancy Cicero. He has been a Conservative supporter for 40 years.

Benny Higgins was boss of Tesco Bank, and has become a serial appointee of the SNP government, setting up its investment bank and chairing its national art galleries. Both men now back Labour.

This letter is to challenge perceptions of Labour, demonstrating it has changed since the last election in 2019, when Jeremy Corbyn was leader.

Some trade union leaders are unimpressed by the lean towards business, and a dilution of plans to strengthen worker rights.

But unhappy union leaders could be just what Labour wants swing voters to hear.

Tories don’t have to work so hard to show business supports the party, as its campaign contributions demonstrate, though recent years have seen business and party fall out over Brexit and the consequences of it.

But this is only week one. There will be more letters. In past elections, such endorsements have worked well for both the Tories and the SNP.