In our latest Panelbase poll, we asked the same independence question we asked in the last one, and got much the same answer. (Technically the indy vote went up by about a sixth of one percent, but that’s statistically meaningless.)
That’s a bit disappointing after the events of recent weeks, but also not very surprising – after all, the way the question is framed pretty much guarantees at least 38% of the population will choose the second option straight off the bat.
Much more interesting is the question we asked next.
Political pundits on both sides on the border often marvel at how the SNP appear able to defy the normal rules of electoral gravity, still holding a comfortable double-digit lead in the polls after more than 11 years in power. But there’s no great mystery to it, and the answer is simple, in several senses of that word.
Ladies and gentlemen, allow us to present to you Scottish Labour’s offering for who’d be in charge of all the Scottish Government’s money if the SNP weren’t in power – finance spokesman James Kelly MSP.
As alert readers will know, we’ve heard little from the Unionist parties in Scotland over the last couple of years but “SCOTLAND SAID NO!”, “SCOTLAND DOESN’T WANT ANOTHER REFERENDUM!” and “WHAT PART OF NO DON’T YOU UNDERSTAND?”
That clutch of blunt, angry slogans was (and remains) pretty much the entire Scottish Conservatives manifesto, for example, and it rests on the claim – based on some extremely misleading selective reading of opinion polls – that the nation is implacably opposed to a second vote. The reality, as we know, is somewhat more balanced. But it’s never been quite THIS balanced before.
We’ve just got the results back from a new Panelbase poll of Scottish voters. As ever there’s some fascinating stuff in there, but we’ll start with the headline voting numbers:
HOLYROOD VOTING INTENTION (excl DK, chgs vs Dec 2017)
SNP 41 (+2)
Con 27 (-1)
Lab 22 (-3)
LD 6 (-)
Grn 2 (-)
This year’s Scottish Social Attitudes Survey has found, yet again, that Scottish people trust their government in Holyrood vastly more than they trust the one in Westminster. The figures transcend party loyalties, with far more people saying they trust the Scottish Government than vote for the SNP.
Trust in both governments was down by five points, which meant the Scottish Government had lost 7.6% of its trust (66 down to 61) while the UK government had lost 20% of its trust (25 down to 20).
Now let’s see how two newspapers owned by the same company reported the news.
The Sunday Times puts some poll results in an interesting frame today:
And readers who’ve learned anything at all from this site over the last six years will be looking at that tweet and immediately wondering “what AREN’T we being told there?”
And to be absolutely fair to the Scottish Lib Dem leader, he’s always been consistent in his beliefs, such as the view that elected members should be given a second chance when they’ve committed a minor misdemeanour, and NOT have to (for example) stand down and face re-election.
So as we’re busy today we’ll just refer you to some of the previous occasions we’ve covered it, because literally everything about it is exactly the same now as it was then.
Northcode on The Land Of No Laws: “Note: The entire italicization of my previous comment is not intentional… I screwed up and forgot to close the HTML…” May 20, 09:15
Northcode on The Land Of No Laws: ““Non-Muslims aren’t even allowed into Mecca” This is true, but you make the mistake of assumption, AI Dan. You assume…” May 20, 08:33
diabloandco on The Land Of No Laws: “There was once a contributor on here , a unionist, who put forward several interesting points and ideas – his/her…” May 20, 08:14
Hatey McHateface on The Land Of No Laws: “@ Aidan says: 20 May, 2026 at 8:02 am Ah, c’moan noo, Aidan. Cut the lassie some slack. She’ll be…” May 20, 08:08
Aidan on The Land Of No Laws: “Non-Muslims aren’t even allowed into Mecca, but of course Geri doesn’t know that because Geri barely knows anything, unless it…” May 20, 08:02
Hatey McHateface on The Land Of No Laws: “@ Aidan says: 20 May, 2026 at 6:36 am And zilch about Big Barbs fae the scheme semi naked trampling…” May 20, 07:32
Hatey McHateface on The Land Of No Laws: ““Some you win, some you lose” Not like on here, then, Geri. Where you lose every time. I almost feel…” May 20, 07:26
Hatey McHateface on The Land Of No Laws: “@ Young Lochinvar says: 19 May, 2026 at 11:56 pm “Shit, near midnight and I haven’t posted how not gay…” May 20, 07:04
Hatey McHateface on The Land Of No Laws: “@ Dan says: 19 May, 2026 at 11:39 pm “Never mind the “prick” and “twat” post from earlier. Can I…” May 20, 06:55
Aidan on The Land Of No Laws: “Well look everybody, today we have Geri’s economic master plan for the UAE, and she even stayed up until 2:30…” May 20, 06:36
Geri on The Land Of No Laws: “AI Dan, Whit a moron you are. High worth *individuals* are of very little benefit to any country. What exactly…” May 20, 02:32
Young Lochinvar on The Land Of No Laws: “AI Dun @ 5.42 The hoores excuse.. You Tories really are a right bunch, just lurking, beneath the radar but…” May 20, 00:15
Young Lochinvar on The Land Of No Laws: “HMcH Hurry up now catamite! 11.20 is getting awfy close to midnight and Matron switching off the lights and turning…” May 19, 23:56
Young Lochinvar on The Land Of No Laws: “Dan @ 9.44 It’s because he’s a Scotchland office superannuated/ private healthcare scheme tax hating/ aspiring evader Harry hoofter with…” May 19, 23:45
Dan on The Land Of No Laws: “So just diversion and no effort to provide detailed costings on the health provision model you want. Yer not the…” May 19, 23:39
Geri on The Land Of No Laws: “Faithless people? Away & behave! They’re defending their territory. WTF that had to do with his comments is anyones guess.…” May 19, 23:31
Geri on The Land Of No Laws: ““if they can’t get the huns to win, will try to get the wee huns over the line.” LOL! Love…” May 19, 23:21
Hatey McHateface on The Land Of No Laws: “Credit where due, Confused, that’s a good post. Seems you missed an obvious solution to Scottish football’s sectarian problems though.…” May 19, 23:20
Young Lochinvar on The Land Of No Laws: “Well happy anniversary tomorrow, particularly for the Pict supporters on here of tomorrow’s anniversary of the Battle of Dunnichen/ Nechtansmere…” May 19, 23:18
Hatey McHateface on The Land Of No Laws: ““our ancestors were ethnically cleansed, displaced, slaughtered & starved” Are you sure, Geri? Only, I would have thought that if…” May 19, 23:08
Hatey McHateface on The Land Of No Laws: “@ Dan says: 19 May, 2026 at 9:44 pm “prick” “twat” “feck” “arse” “drink” You should get out more, Dan,…” May 19, 22:56
Red on The Land Of No Laws: “Geri, take your suicidal empathy elsewhere. We don’t need any more faithless people. We need people who are for the…” May 19, 22:52
Hatey McHateface on The Land Of No Laws: “If you intend to play the “native Scot” cards, Alf, I hope you’re holding a good hand. I can trace…” May 19, 22:44
Geri on The Land Of No Laws: “& how would you know that? I think they’d be rather proud & show empathy considering our ancestors were ethnically…” May 19, 22:29
Confused on The Land Of No Laws: “it’s funny how the podcast is taking over as the dominant form; even the BBC is doing them, since they…” May 19, 22:22
Willie on The Land Of No Laws: “Just switched on tbe BBC news. Silly me, should have known better, but the world neadlines are that Arsenal have…” May 19, 22:16
Red on The Land Of No Laws: “If we’re going to talk “pathetic”, why are you, a Scottish man, flying the “Palestinian” flag? You think they’re your…” May 19, 21:59
Dan on The Land Of No Laws: “One ponders how John Hatey Main will cover his health insurance premiums or pay for his and family’s medical treatments…” May 19, 21:44
Alf Baird on The Land Of No Laws: ““Are these colonialists with you now?” Aye, they are all over this site like a bad rash, de-basing native Scots…” May 19, 21:44
Jamie on The Land Of No Laws: “Cheating SFA now talking about deducting Celtic points, so that Celtic will be the first and only club in Scotland…” May 19, 21:36
