TRUST in the Scottish government has plunged to an all-time low with less than half of respondents believing it rules in the country’s best interests, a major annual poll found today.

The latest Scottish Social Attitudes survey, published by the Scottish Centre for Social Research (ScotCen), shows a “clear decline in trust” since devolution.

It found just 47 per cent of respondents trusted the Scottish government to do what is right for Scotland in 2024, a fall of 14 percentage points since 2019, and well down on the 81 per cent level enjoyed by the then Scottish executive in 1999.

Satisfaction with the NHS has fallen to 22 per cent — the lowest since records began in 1999 — while rates of those feeling the service had declined soared to a new high of 69 per cent.

Support for independence has, however, climbed from 27 per cent in 1999 to 47 per cent in 2024, but the report, authored by Sophie Birtwistle and Sir John Curtice, concluded it remained “a long way from looking like a ‘settled will’” that support for devolution once enjoyed.

ScotCen director Paul Bradshaw said: “These latest results show a clear decline in trust in the Scottish government, alongside continued concern about public services and the economy.

“Confidence in political institutions is under pressure, a finding that will be important for policy-makers and the public alike.”

Scottish Labour deputy leader Dame Jackie Baillie commented: “This damning survey shows this tired SNP government has lost the trust of Scottish people and compromised the founding principles of our NHS.”

Welcoming the growth in support for independence, Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes responded: “The data suggests that trust in the Scottish government is on a level with governments elsewhere but we are determined to do more.”