Scots staying positive over UK economy

SCOTS remain upbeat about the state of the UK’s finances over the next 12 months, a new survey suggests.

The new poll shows some 16 per cent of people believe the condition of the economy in Scotland will improve in the next year.

In comparison, 45 per cent think it will get worse.

The poll was conducted by Ipsos MORI.

The result gives an optimism score of -29 per cent, up 14 percentage points from December 2011.

Meanwhile, around 59 per cent think the state of the UK economy will worsen in the next 12 months, while 12 per cent believe it will improve, giving an optimism score of -47 per cent.

This is an improvement of 18 percentage points from December 2011.

The survey questioned 1,005 people between January 27 and 29.

Mark Diffley, research director at Ipsos MORI Scotland, said: “Our survey reveals that the overriding view among Scots is one of economic gloom. The picture has improved a little since December 2011 but it is too early to say whether this is a longer-term sign of optimism growing. We saw some tentative signs of growing optimism in April only for record levels of pessimism to be recorded later in 2011.

“There is now also an 18-point difference between attitudes to the Scottish and UK economies, driven to some extent by supporters of the SNP who feel far more upbeat about economic prospects in Scotland than for the UK as a whole.”