Public Trust in Scottish Government Hits Record Low, Survey Reveals

Introduction

Public trust in the Scottish Government has plummeted to its lowest level since the advent of devolution in 1999, according to the latest Scottish Social Attitudes (SSA) survey published by the Scottish Centre for Social Research (ScotCen). The findings, which incorporate data from 2023 and 2024, reveal that only 47% of Scots now trust the Scottish National Party (SNP) administration to act in the country's best interests. This marks a significant decline from 61% in 2019 and a substantial drop from the 81% recorded when the Scottish Parliament reconvened in 1999.

Declining Trust in Governance

The survey, which celebrates 25 years of tracking social and political attitudes in Scotland, underscores a 'clear decline in trust' in the Scottish Government. Beyond overall trust, only 36% of respondents believe the Scottish Government is effective at listening to people before making decisions, the lowest figure recorded since 2006. This contrasts sharply with 51% who held this view in 2019. In comparison, trust in the UK Government to work in Scotland's best interests stood at 21% in 2023, with only 12% believing it was good at listening.

NHS Satisfaction at Historic Low

Satisfaction with NHS Scotland has also reached an unprecedented low, with only 22% of the public expressing satisfaction with the health service. This figure is comparable to satisfaction levels across the rest of Britain and represents the lowest point since the survey began in 1999. A related finding from 2023 indicated that 69% of people felt the standard of the health service had declined over the previous 12 months.

Broader Public Concerns

The survey also touched upon the financial well-being of Scots. In 2024, approximately 41% of adults in Scotland reported living comfortably or doing alright financially, while around 24% stated they were struggling. Despite the decline in trust in the Scottish Government, support for independence has seen an increase, standing at 47% in 2024, up from 27% in 1999. Paul Bradshaw, Director of ScotCen, commented that the results 'show a clear decline in trust in the Scottish Government, alongside continued concern about public services and the economy.'

Political Reactions

Opposition parties have reacted to the survey findings. Scottish Conservative Deputy Leader Rachael Hamilton attributed the decline to 'nearly two decades of abject SNP failure in every major policy area.' Scottish Labour Deputy Leader Jackie Baillie stated that the 'damning survey shows this tired SNP government has lost the trust of Scottish people and compromised the founding principles of our NHS.' In response, Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes acknowledged the data, stating, 'The data suggests that trust in the Scottish government is on a level with governments elsewhere but we are determined to do more.'