Money and choice
It is, as so often, about money and political choice.
With Alistair Darling due to unveil his final pre-election Budget later this week, it could scarcely be otherwise.
But there is a distinct aspect of all this being canvassed here in Aviemore, at the SNP conference.
The prospect of cuts in public spending dominated Alex Salmond's speech yesterday - and dominates the agenda today.
Mr Salmond argued that the election of a substantial bloc of Nationalist MPs could help forestall early and disadvantageous cuts in Scotland.
As noted here before, this is of course about strategic positioning for the election: countering the claim by the SNP's rivals that the party is irrelevant in a UK context.
But there is now a new dimension.
The has suggested that further cuts in the Scottish spending package for 2010/11 could be deferred. Not cancelled, postponed.
Holyrood's overall budget is determined by Westminster.
There is due to be a new Comprehensive Spending Review, implemented from 2011. Nobody expects that to be anything other than hugely challenging.
The immediate dispute concerns John Swinney's Budget plans for the coming year, already negotiated and endorsed by Holyrood.
Mr Swinney and Mr Salmond are pressing hard for that package to be left alone.
This campaign has a dual dimension. Firstly, they - and councils across Scotland - genuinely want to protect the agreed budget.
Secondly, for the SNP, there is again a strategic political dimension in being seen to stand up for Scotland in the face of Westminster constraint.
The Osborne offer is intriguing. He is suggesting that any consequences for Scotland of emergency cuts he might bring in as Chancellor could be deferred until the next CSR is under way. Again, not abandoned. Deferred.
From a Tory point of view, this can be presented as part of David Cameron's declared intent to treat Scotland and the devolved settlement with respect, to deflect claims that he would have a minimal mandate to govern Scotland, given the relative dearth of Tory MPs north of the border which may or may not be altered by ther election.
From an SNP point of view, John Swinney and Alex Salmond are saying that they have their rivals "on the run", that they are recognising the validity of the Scottish government campaign, if not yet responding fully.
Money and choice.
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