Poll finds Scots say SNP government failing to deliver public services

A Survation poll of 2,051 Scottish adults conducted Sept. 4-16 found that a majority believe the SNP government is failing to deliver in nearly all public services, with 11 of 12 policy areas rated not performing well. On housing, 65% said the government was not performing well, and 26% said it was performing well. Local government funding fared similarly, with 64% rating performance poorly and 26% saying it was performing well. Social care and drug harm reduction drew negative responses, with 60% rating performance poorly. Economic and public-safety domains also drew critique: 58% said the economy and jobs were not performing well, while 35% considered performance good; 56% judged the NHS not performing well and 39% said it was performing well; 58% rated crime and policing poorly and 34% said it was performing well. Trains were the only policy area where more respondents believed the government was performing well (48%) than poorly (41%). The poll, conducted Sept. 4-16 among 2,051 Scottish adults, also found that 60% would vote to remain in the United Kingdom and 40% would vote to leave.

The survey was commissioned by Scotland in Union, a campaign group aligned with the poll, and comes as First Minister John Swinney seeks to accelerate his party’s independence strategy ahead of next year’s Holyrood elections. The findings were echoed in the reactions of political opponents, who argued the results reflect public fatigue with the SNP’s approach to day-to-day governance while independence remains a secondary issue for many voters.

Top policy priorities cited by respondents included the NHS, named by 57% as a priority, followed by immigration and energy bills at 29% each, the economy and jobs at 27%, and tax levels at 19%. Independence was identified as a top issue by 14% of respondents. When asked how they would vote in a referendum on Scotland’s status, 60% said they would remain part of the UK and 40% would vote to leave.

In Holyrood voting intentions, the SNP remained ahead, but support was not uniform across ballots. On the constituency vote, 37% said they would vote SNP, with Labour at 20%, Reform UK at 18%, Conservatives at 11%, Liberal Democrats at 7%, Greens at 5% and Alba at 1%. On the regional list, the SNP drew 31%, Labour 18%, Reform 16%, Conservatives 13%, Lib Dems 11%, Greens 8% and Alba 2%. A Scottish Elections Study seat projector based on the poll showed the SNP winning 62 seats, with Labour on 19, Reform UK on 18, Conservatives 12, Lib Dems 11 and Greens 7.

If a UK general election were held today, the poll suggested 35% would vote SNP, with Labour and Reform UK tied on 19% each, followed by the Conservatives at 12%, Lib Dems at 8%, Greens at 4% and Alba at 1%.

Deputy SNP leader Keith Brown said the poll pointed to tangible gains, arguing the party had made progress on NHS waiting times, GP numbers and rail-fare relief, while criticising Westminster’s treatment of Scotland. “The SNP is focussed on making Scotland a better place to live. NHS waiting times are coming down and GP numbers are up, our young people achieved outstanding exam results this year, and we’ve just scrapped peak rail fares for good - saving commuters hundreds of pounds,” he said. “There can be no doubt that Westminster treats Scotland as an afterthought and is holding us back. Independence is the fresh start that Scotland needs so we can release our nation’s full potential.”

In response, Scottish Conservative deputy leader Rachael Hamilton said the poll confirmed widespread dissatisfaction with the SNP, arguing the party had “failed on every major issue they are responsible for” and calling for a shift toward addressing health care, housing and crime.

The poll results underscore the persistent tension between public service delivery and the independence question as Scotland heads toward next year’s elections, with the SNP seeking to frame its record on day-to-day governance while opponents push a broader rethink of Scotland’s constitutional status. The survey’s authors cautioned that a poll of this nature reflects opinions at a specific moment and may shift as campaigns unfold, but the findings add to a growing narrative of public service challenges under the current government.