A major new poll has revealed that 47% of people in Scotland now feel economically insecure, with fears over household bills and unexpected costs driving widespread disaffection with politics just months before the 2026 Holyrood election.
Conducted by the Diffley Partnership for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and published today, the research shows one in five adults feel “very” insecure, warning that financial anxiety is eroding trust in politicians across the board.
Worst Levels Since Records Began
This is the highest level of economic insecurity recorded in Scotland since the JRF series began in 2017.
Among those who feel very insecure, 72% say they could not pay an unexpected £200 bill next week without borrowing or cutting essentials. Over half (56%) have cut back on food or heating in the past month.
“People are not just worried about money, they are exhausted by it,” said Chris Birt, JRF Scotland Associate Director. “This is now directly feeding anger and disconnection from politics.”
Trust in Holyrood Hits Rock Bottom
Only 19% of Scots now trust the Scottish Government to act in their best interests on poverty, down from 38% in 2021.
Trust in the UK Government stands at just 12%.
The collapse is sharpest among working-age adults in deprived areas, where only one in ten now believe politicians understand their lives.
Voters Ready to Punish Main Parties
The poll of 1,008 adults, carried out 8-13 January 2026, shows economic insecurity is the strongest predictor of intending to vote for parties other than SNP, Labour or Conservatives.
Among those feeling very insecure:
- 41% say they are likely to switch their vote from 2021
- 28% are considering Reform UK or Scottish Greens
- 19% say they may not vote at all
Mark Diffley, director of the Diffley Partnership, said: “Economic insecurity has become the single biggest driver of political volatility in Scotland. Parties ignoring this do so at their peril.”
Child Poverty Failure Fuels Anger
One in four Scottish children still live in poverty despite repeated Holyrood promises to eradicate it.
The Scottish Government’s own figures show the child poverty reduction target for 2030 will be missed by a huge margin on current trends.
Among parents feeling very economically insecure, 63% say politicians have “completely failed” their family.
Peter Kelly, director of the Poverty Alliance, called the findings “a wake-up call”.
He said: “People told us they feel abandoned. With an election coming, voters will remember who stood up for them and who looked the other way.”
What Voters Want Now
The poll asked those feeling insecure what would make the biggest difference to their lives:
- Cutting energy bills and council tax – 68%
- Real increases in wages and benefits – 61%
- More affordable housing – 54%
- Free school meals and childcare for all – 47%
Only 11% said tax cuts for businesses would help them personally.
As the Holyrood campaign begins in earnest, the message from Scotland’s struggling households is clear: warm words are no longer enough.
Politicians who fail to put money back in people’s pockets this May risk paying the heaviest price at the ballot box.
