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The Herald Scotland
28-05-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Top concerns of Scots ahead of Holyrood election must be heeded
Health care, cost of living, poverty, the economy and, now, immigration - these are the top concerns amongst Scots and politicians should be ready to face all of these worries. Never underestimate the power of public opinion. This is a phrase which should be scrawled all over the walls of political party's campaign rooms ahead of Holyrood 2026. They should be memorising it, living it, breathing it. Without appealing to voters' concerns, political parties are nothing and they would do well in remembering that. It's fortunate there are studies out there to guide them. This month, the Understanding Scotland Economy Tracker, produced by the Diffley Partnership and David Hume Institute, polled 2,326 adults, aged 16 and over, across Scotland. It identified a shift in public concerns as well as rising economic unease. Politicians should be paying heed to this. READ MORE: Immigration ranked as a top concern for Scots, new report reveals Can Reform win the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election? Scottish by-election: Constituents deserve a race to be their MSP The latest survey found that healthcare and the cost of living remain by far the most pressing issues, cited by around a half (49%) and over a third (36%) of people, respectively. The next most cited issue is poverty (17%). However, for the first time since the tracker began in October 2021, immigration has joined the top five public concerns. It is now ranked as a top issue by 16% of Scots, drawing neck and neck with the economy which gained the same amount of percentage points. Amongst those living in the most deprived areas, it is 22%. Senior Research Manager at the Diffley Partnership, Scott Edgar, who led the survey design, told The Herald they have been tracking the topic of immigration for a long time and it's only gradually ticked up over the last 12 months or so. This concern has potentially been brushed away by political parties in Scotland as more of a hot topic for down South with small boats crossing the Channel. It still is, but this study shows it is now on the minds of more and more Scots. Then there's the incredibly pressing issue of economic uncertainty which has stood out in the latest findings. Of those polled, 70% of respondents say economic conditions have worsened compared to a year ago, and almost half (49%) say their own financial situation has deteriorated over the same period. Alarmingly, one in five people said they cannot cover a £100 emergency without borrowing money, a figure that jumps to 44% when considering a £500 expense. What's more, half of Scots report scaling back discretionary expenses, and nearly half are conserving energy at home. Scots are struggling and they are strongly questioning whether the answers lie with the current political establishment as the issue of trust in politicians is also on the rise. With Scotland's main political parties testing out their strategies for next year's parliamentary elections in the Hamilton, Stonehouse and Larkhall by-election right now, they have likely heard some if not all of these issues voiced on the doors. However, this report should sound alarm bells in the ranks of all of Scotland's political parties and shape what they are focusing on in terms of developing their policy platforms ahead of Holyrood 2026. Voters will be looking to Scotland's politicians to offer solutions which address the economic challenges they face, improve their healthcare, standard of living and, now, address the other rising concerns they have. They all better have good answers.
The National
01-05-2025
- Politics
- The National
Poll predicts big boost for SNP and lead over Scottish Labour
Carried out by Survation on behalf of Edinburgh-based research agency Diffley Partnership, the survey asked over 1000 Scots how they would vote in Scottish Parliament and Westminster parliament elections as well as how they would vote in an independence referendum. In voting intentions for the Scottish Parliament ahead of the 2026 election, the SNP leads with 36% backing the party in the constituency vote. READ MORE: Aberdeen locals react to Michael Gove choosing 'Lord of Torry' title On the regional list, support stands at 28% – ahead of Scottish Labour, who poll at 22% in both ballots. It represents a boost for John Swinney, with The National's recent poll putting support for the party at 35% and 25% in constituency and list vote respectively. The Scottish Tories, meanwhile, come in at 13% for the constituency vote and 16% on the list. Reform UK registers double-digit support, with 14% of respondents saying they would vote for the party in the constituency ballot and 12% in the list vote. The Scottish Greens have 5% in constituency but 10% in list vote (below). (Image: Diffley Partnership) When it comes to Westminster voting intention, 33% would support the SNP, 24% would support Labour, 15% would vote for Reform UK, and 14% for the Conservatives. The poll also surveyed how respondents would vote in an independence referendum, with 49% reporting that they would vote Yes and 51% would vote No. READ MORE: Hotel on Scotland's NC500 with 'stunning views' put up for sale Scott Edgar, senior research manager at the Diffley Partnership said: 'With the 2026 Scottish Parliament elections just a year away, this poll shows the SNP are in pole position to remain the largest party at Holyrood come next May. 'Despite Labour's efforts in recent months, they have yet to make significant inroads into the SNP's lead.' He added: 'Meanwhile, Reform UK's polling performance indicates that they will be a force to be reckoned with at next year's election. 'As the election approaches, all parties will be looking to seize the narrative, clearly articulate their vision, and make a compelling pitch to voters in what promises to be one of the most consequential elections since devolution.'
Daily Record
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
SNP open up 14 point lead on Scottish Labour in latest Holyrood election poll
The Survation poll was on behalf of Edinburgh-based research agency Diffley Partnership. John Swinney's SNP have opened up a 14 point lead over Labour in a new Holyrood election opinion poll. The Nationalists hold a narrower 6 point lead over Anas Sarwar's party on the regional lists. The poll, carried out by Survation on behalf of Edinburgh-based research agency Diffley Partnership, was based on the views of over 1,000 Scots. Labour were confident of toppling the SNP next year, but a series of controversial decisions by Keir Starmer's UK Government has seen their poll rating collapse. The poll appears to confirm the downward trend for Sarwar's party. In voting intentions for Holyrood, the SNP was on 36% in the constituency vote, followed by 22% for Labour, 14% for Reform UK, 13% for the Tories and 9% for the Lib Dems. On the second vote, the SNP attracted 28% support, while Labour were on 22%, the Tories 16% and Reform UK 12%. The Scottish Greens polled 10% and the Lib Dems were on 9%. Scott Edgar, Senior Research Manager at Diffley Partnership said: 'With the 2026 Scottish Parliament elections just a year away, this poll shows the SNP are in pole position to remain the largest party at Holyrood come next May. 'Despite Labour's efforts in recent months, they have yet to make significant inroads into the SNP's lead. 'Meanwhile, Reform UK's polling performance indicates that they will be a force to be reckoned with at next year's election. 'As the election approaches, all parties will be looking to seize the narrative, clearly articulate their vision, and make a compelling pitch to voters in what promises to be one of the most consequential elections since devolution.'
The National
29-04-2025
- Politics
- The National
Poll: Tory and Reform voters more likely to back majoritarian government
Survey work completed by the Diffley Partnership for Electoral Reform Society (ERS) Scotland also found that Scots are more likely to trust their local supermarket than the police, courts, councils, or national parliaments. To produce the results which highlighted a divide between Reform and Tory voters and other parties' supporters, the poll of 1005 Scots adults asked people to say which of two statements came closest to their view: 1: 'Parliament should consider all opinions before enacting new laws, even if it takes longer to get things done' – or 'Parliament should be able to quickly and efficiently enact new laws, even if it means ignoring some opinions'. 2: 'It is important that the seats in Parliament reflect the results of elections proportionally' – or 'It is important that the seats in Parliament lead to a majority Government'. 3: 'I prefer a leader who seeks consensus before making decisions' – or 'I prefer a strong leader who makes decisions without compromise'. 4: 'Equality and diversity must be considered when making decisions' – or 'The pursuit of equality and diversity gets in the way of making decisions'. It found that, overall, Scots opted for the choice which involved more collaboration and careful deliberation. On question one, 73% said all opinions should be considered while 27% preferred rapid action. On question three, 72% preferred a leader who seeks consensus while 28% backed one who acted without compromise. The Diffley Partnership reported that the options which represent 'majoritarian' views were more likely to be supported by Tory and Reform voters, by men, and by over 55s. READ MORE: 'What changed?': Labour MP pans party's broken pledges as Grangemouth refining ends Data showed that among Tory voters, 35% backed at least three out of four of the majoritarian options, while 27% of Reform voters did so. This compared to 15% of SNP and Labour voters, 14% of LibDem voters, and just 5% of Green voters. Elsewhere, 21% of men backed at least three out of four of the majoritarian options compared to 14% of women, and 23% of over 55s did so, compared to 13% of people aged 16-54. The polling also asked Scottish adults to rate how much it trusted public bodies, figures, and institutions on a scale of 1-10. Averaged out, it found that Scots gave the NHS a rating of 6.5 – the highest in the country. In second place were supermarkets, with a rank of 5.5. This was above the police (5.2), the banks (5.1), the courts (4.9), and the local council (4.1). National parliaments and politicians came bottom of the pile, although trust was shown to be higher in the Scottish Parliament (3.9) than the UK Parliament (3.4). Political parties scored 3.1, while politicians scored just 2.8. The polling results were presented by Mark Diffley, the director of the Diffley Partnership, to ERS Scotland's conference.
The National
23-04-2025
- Politics
- The National
Scots overwhelmingly back ban on greyhound racing, poll finds
Polling commissioned by the American lobby group GREY2K USA Worldwide found that 68% of Scots support banning the dog racing, while 32% back it remaining legal. The results come as a new bill is published at the Scottish Parliament proposing an end to greyhound racing in Scotland. The members' bill has been proposed by Green MSP Mark Ruskell, who has spoken about his own experience rescuing a greyhound. READ MORE: Push for greyhound racing ban not supported by MSPs Christine Dorchak, the president and co-founder of GREY2K USA Worldwide, said: 'Greyhound racing is a disreputable pastime that exploits gentle dogs, exposing them to pain, injury and death, so it comes as no surprise that the majority of Scots want to see an end to this inherently cruel, gambling-led industry. 'With legislation now being considered by the Scottish Parliament, greyhounds may get their second chance in Scotland. 'Parliamentarians have before them the historic opportunity to make Scotland the first nation in the UK to say 'no more' to the confinement, injury and death, drugging and overbreeding endemic to the greyhound gambling industry.' The poll GREY2K USA Worldwide commissioned was designed and conducted by the Edinburgh-based Diffley Partnership from April 11-16. The headline figures (of 68% vs 32%) came from a representative sample of 1037 people, with people who answered 'don't know' excluded. (Image: Mark Ruskell) The Scottish Greens said that, according to the RSPCA, there are only nine countries in the world that still allow commercial greyhound racing, including all four UK nations. The party further pointed to data from 2023, which showed that 109 greyhounds died trackside in the UK, with a further 4238 greyhounds injured during racing. Ruskell said: 'This is a milestone moment for my bill and I am grateful to all of the MSPs and campaigners who have helped us to get to this stage. 'Greyhound racing is a cruel sport that causes a huge amount of harm to dogs. Far too many have been killed or badly injured on the tracks. 'There is no safe or humane way to force a group of dogs to run around an oval track at 40 mph and it is totally wrong to make them do it in the name of profit. READ MORE: Former SNP MP in call for independence meeting ahead of national strategy gathering 'With Wales taking action, Scotland is looking increasingly isolated in allowing this gambling-led spectacle to continue. 'I hope that the Scottish Government and MSPs from all parties will support me and that we can get my bill over the line and end greyhound racing for good.' In February, the Welsh Government announced that it would ban the cruel gambling-led entertainment 'as soon as practically possible'. Last year, Holyrood's Rural Affairs Committee called for higher welfare standards for greyhounds bred for racing in Scotland rather than a complete ban. GREY2K USA Worldwide said that Scotland has just one remaining unregulated track: Thornton in Fife. It pointed to research by BiGGAR Economics, claiming that the 'track contributes next to nothing to the economy, and could be far more beneficial to the local community if the site was repurposed for housing'.
