Insights & news.

More than half (54 percent) of people in Scotland believe they do not get value for money from public services, despite having the highest income tax burden in the UK. According to a new poll for strategic advisory firm True North, just over a quarter (28 percent) of people believe the level of personal tax in Scotland provides value for money in public services.

The Scottish public backs the awarding of new North Sea oil and gas licences by more than a two to one majority, according to a new poll published today by advisory firm True North. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak visited the North East of Scotland to make the announcement last month, in a drive to slow decline in domestic production of oil and gas during the UK’s transition to net zero.

There was a time in the not very distant past when the publication of a new poll meant embarrassment and humiliation for Scottish Labour. Now, however, that has all changed, with the release of each survey leading even the most cool-headed party functionaries to dream of triumph at Westminster and Holyrood.