What do we use cookies for?
We use cookies and similar technologies to recognise your repeat visits and preferences, as well as to measure the effectiveness of campaigns and analyze traffic. To learn more about cookies, view our Cookie Policy. By clicking "Accept" or using our site, you consent to the use of cookies unless you have disabled them.
More in Common asked the Scottish public for their perceptions of key policies and incidents from the Scottish Government. Respondents were asked how much they had heard about each of them, and whether they reflected positively or negatively on the Scottish Government.
The below grid provides an insight into how the Scottish government is viewed by the public, and which moments have stuck in voters’ minds.
The Scottish Police investigation into the SNP - including Nicola Sturgeon and Peter Murrell - is the single most widely-heard-of incident on the list: 81 per cent of Scottish people say they have heard a great deal or a bit about it. By a margin of 57 per cent to 20 per cent, they say it reflects badly on the Scottish Government.
Close behind it on salience is Scotland having the highest rate of drug deaths in Europe. Seven in ten Scots (72 per cent) say they have heard about this, and it is one of the most negatively-rated issues tested: 70 per cent say drug deaths reflect badly on the government, compared to just 10 per cent who say it reflects well.
There is also a wider cluster of incidents that are both well-known and strongly negative for the government. Around seven in ten Scots (71 per cent) have heard about NHS waiting lists reaching record levels, while 56 per cent say this reflects badly on the government.
Likewise, around two-thirds have heard about the Edinburgh tramline overruns (66 per cent), the Isla Bryson prison scandal (66 per cent), the Gender Recognition Reform Bill (66 per cent) and the ferries contract mismanagement (65 per cent). Of these, the ferries contract and Edinburgh trams look particularly damaging: 60 per cent and 62 per cent respectively say they reflect badly on the government.
“iPad-gate” - the controversy over a £11,000 roaming data bill on a ministerial iPad later linked to family use - stands out as a key scandal, combining high awareness (63 per cent) with a strongly negative public reaction: 68 per cent of Scots say it reflects negatively.
The Neil Gray ministerial car scandal appears especially toxic even if it has not fully cut through. Fewer than half of Scots (44 per cent) have heard about it, but among those tested it is the most negatively-rated issue overall: 71 per cent say it reflects badly on the government.
Some of the Scottish Government’s strongest-performing policies seem to have been over-shadowed. Free personal and nursing care is the best-rated item on the list, with 70 per cent saying it reflects well on the government and only 4 per cent saying it reflects badly. Yet only 41 per cent say they have heard a great deal or a bit about it.
Similarly, free NHS dental care for under-26s is popular but not widely known. Nearly two-thirds of Scots (65 per cent) say it reflects positively on the government, and just 7 per cent negatively, but only 40 per cent have heard about it.
Rent caps (now expired) and the ban on no-fault evictions may also fall into this category. A majority of Scots (53 per cent) say the policy reflects well on the government and only 10 per cent badly, but awareness is relatively low at 54 per cent.
There are also several policies which combine strong public support with high awareness. Free bus travel for under-22s is popular and well-known: 80 per cent of Scots have heard about it, and by a margin of 56 per cent to 15 per cent they say it reflects well on the government.
Prescription charges being abolished is another standout win. Nearly three-quarters of Scots (73 per cent) have heard about it, while 70 per cent say it reflects well on the government and just 8 per cent badly.
Universal free school meals is similarly strong: 70 per cent have heard about the policy, and by a margin of 67 per cent to 8 per cent Scots say it reflects positively on the government.
Tuition fees for Scottish students and the Baby Box policy also sit comfortably in this top-right quadrant. Around 64 per cent have heard about free tuition fees and 70 per cent about the Baby Box; both are seen positively by clear majorities.
The Scottish Government’s higher-rate income tax changes are relatively well-known, but divide Scottish public opinion. Around 59 per cent have heard about the new advanced rate between £75,000 and £125,000, but Scots are only narrowly more likely to say it reflects well on the government than badly (34 per cent to 24 per cent).
Likewise, increasing the top rate of income tax to 48 per cent is heard of by 53 per cent, but opinion is fairly split: 36 per cent say it reflects well, compared to 26 per cent badly.
The government’s decision to abandon its 2030 renewable energy target also looks more muted than some other rows on the chart. Just over half of Scots (51 per cent) have heard about it, and 40 per cent say it reflects negatively while 20 per cent say positively.