Distrust in Scottish Government surges over the last year, as per survey findings. According to the 2023 Scottish household survey, 45 per cent of respondents expressed distrust towards the Government, a significant increase from 38 per cent in 2022. Concurrently, 45 per cent of the participants stated that they trust the Scottish Government. Remarkably, the Government emerged as the most distrusted institution in the survey, with all other public bodies being trusted by the majority of Scots.
The data follows a tumultuous year in Scottish politics, including an ongoing police investigation into the SNP’s finances and the resignation of former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. Despite the decline in trust towards the Scottish Government, support for other institutions remained robust. The survey revealed that 53 per cent of respondents trusted local government, compared to 35 per cent who expressed distrust.
The health system garnered the highest trust levels, with 78 per cent of participants trusting it, while only 18 per cent did not. Following closely, the police received trust from 73 per cent of people, with 16 per cent expressing distrust. Similarly, the education system (62 per cent), civil service (56 per cent), and justice system (53 per cent) all had majority trust ratings.
Released by the Scottish Government, the study also highlighted that ethnic minority Scots were more likely to trust the Government compared to other demographic groups. Notably, 65 per cent of individuals from a “minority ethnic group” and 61 per cent of those identified as “white: other” expressed trust in the Government. In contrast, this figure dropped to 44 per cent for “white – Scottish” and 38 per cent for “white – other British”.
The survey delineated that young Scots and urban dwellers displayed higher levels of trust in the Edinburgh Government compared to older and rural residents. While only 36 per cent of adults over 60 trusted the Scottish Government, this figure increased to 56 per cent among individuals aged 16 to 34. Moreover, 49 per cent of urban residents expressed trust in the Government, contrasting with 38 per cent of rural inhabitants.
The publication of this survey followed the Scottish social attitudes survey in July, which recorded a significant decline in trust towards the Scottish Government. According to the 2023 survey, the percentage of individuals who trust the Government “just about always” or “most of the time” decreased to 47 per cent, down from 61 per cent in 2019 – the last comparable survey conducted.
In summary, the fluctuating levels of trust in the Scottish Government reflect a dynamic landscape in Scottish politics, with various demographic and geographic factors influencing public perception and confidence in governmental institutions.