Holyrood: Power closer to home

Published on 24/06/2012 03:27

HOLYROOD is just as influential as Westminster in the eyes of the public for the first time since devolution, a survey published today reveals.

The Scottish Social Attitudes Survey found that the number of people who view Holyrood as having the most influence over the way Scotland is run matches the figure for Westminster – at 38 per cent each. In 2000, 66 per cent of people thought Westminster was the most influential and only 13 per cent said Holyrood.

The poll also confirmed the gap in the trust people have had between Westminster and Holyrood since devolution. While Holyrood is trusted to act in Scotland’s best interests by 71 per cent of people, up 10 per cent in a year, the numbers who backed the UK government fell from 22 per cent to 18 per cent between 2010 and 2011.

The proportion who trust the Scottish Government “a great deal” or “quite a lot” to make fair decisions increased from 35 per cent in 2010 to 46 per cent in 2011.

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said last night: “These findings show that there is a clear public appetite for Scotland to have greater control over its own affairs – and that is exactly what independence offers.”

The survey also found a record number of people feel their standard of living is getting worse.

A total of 67 per cent said it was getting worse, compared with 54 per cent a year before, easily the highest figure since the records began in 1999.

The Scottish Social Attitudes Survey was launched in 1999 to measure public attitudes on a range of subjects, including attitudes to government, the economy and public services.