25-04-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Poll shows Scots feel anxious, angry and disconnected from politics
On a scale from 0 to 10 — where 0 is 'do not trust at all' and 10 is 'completely trust' — respondents gave political parties an average score of just 3.1, and politicians 2.8.
Trust in local councils scored 4.1, the UK Parliament 3.4, and the Scottish Parliament 3.9.
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The survey suggests Scots want powers decentralised. When asked about levels of trust in local institutions, Scots reported a stronger connection to community councils than to either of the national parliaments.
John Swinney held a summit aimed at tackling disenfranchisement The polling was commissioned ahead of a conference organised by ERS Scotland, and comes just days after First Minister John Swinney hosted a summit aimed at 'safeguarding Scotland's democracy' and addressing people's feelings of being unheard and disempowered.
According to the survey, around three in ten adults, 31%, in Scotland say they always or often feel 'angry' about how things are in the country. A similar number, 30%, report frequently feeling anxious, exhausted and disconnected.
Just 28% of respondents expressed feelings of hope or confidence.
The polling also revealed splits on the issue of equality and diversity. While 58% said it must be considered in decision-making, 42% believed it gets in the way.
Despite this disillusionment, there is a strong appetite for a more consensual political culture. Some 72% of people in Scotland said they prefer a leader who seeks consensus before making decisions, compared to a 'strong leader' who acts without compromise.
Similarly, 73% agreed that parliaments should consider all opinions before passing new laws, even if that slows the process.
Willie Sullivan, Senior Director of ERS Scotland, said: 'What this polling shows is people in Scotland firmly reject the uncompromising 'strong man' politics we've seen on the rise globally and want leaders to make decisions in a considered way that builds consensus.
'There are also some serious warnings about how people feel about the future, with feelings of anxiety, exhaustion, anger and disconnection a prevalent feature. Addressing this is key to rebuilding faith in political institutions.
'The post-2014 landscape in Scotland opened up new debates — and new divisions. There is now clearly a mood for a new chapter where we look to fashion a democracy that is robust, responsive and builds on our common interests.
'This also means we need to bring power closer to our communities. The polling shows a trend towards people being more trusting of political institutions that are more local to them, so a big part of what comes next must be ensuring decisions are made closer to the people they affect.'
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At Wednesday's summit, nearly all of Scotland's political leaders — including the First Minister and the leader of the Scottish Labour Party — backed a joint mission statement acknowledging that many people feel 'unheard and disempowered' and 'distant from politics or failed by society".
Party leaders also committed to 'working together to ensure that our democratic structures evolve to meet our democratic ideals and are both trusted and robust".
Flags outside the ParliamentSaturday's ERS conference will explore Scotland's 'new era in public life,' and how the country can move forward from the 'aftermath and consequences of two major constitutional events: the Scottish independence referendum and Brexit".
The day will feature a number of high-profile political figures, including former Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford. Discussions will focus on encouraging a 'culture of debate and consensus building' and ensuring that local democracy becomes more responsive to the needs of communities.
