Is the Scottish Secretary right when he says the public may not like it when people in power tell the truth?
It’s not been a great day for Labour in the polls and not a remarkable one for the SNP either.
A new Survation poll for the Holyrood Sources podcast and True North Advisers published today puts the SNP on 53 seats, ahead of second-placed Labour on 24.
Meanwhile, it put the Conservatives and Reform in joint third place on 15 seats each, the Liberal Democrats on 12, and the Scottish Greens on 10.
To put this into context, the 2021 election saw the SNP win 64 seats, Conservatives 31, Labour 22, Scottish Greens eight and the Liberal Democrats four.
So Labour isn’t doing nearly as well as it needs to and SNP are down on support.
When asked about this today, Ian Murray said it was indicative of how difficult the circumstances are for his party.
He told journalists in the Scottish Parliament: “We have had to make some difficult decisions that are unpopular and no government wants to make unpopular and difficult decisions.”
But in a fitting moment of honesty, the Secretary of State for Scotland added: “We were honest with the public back in July that it will be tough. Maybe the public don’t like honesty after all.”
But is he right? Is honesty not always the best policy?
READ MORE FROM UNSPUN:
Pat McFadden: Celtic fan tipped to succeed Rachel Reeves
Why Sturgeon complained after MSPs granted ‘skiving charter’
John Swinney must reduce NHS waiting times to win over Scots
Your gut instinct is no. We like those we can trust and we need more of that in politics.
One major issue people have with politicians (and there are many) is that they are not trusted. An Ipsos poll from last year found that Politicians are the least trusted profession, though ratings are not quite as bad as in 2018.
However, polling expert Mark Diffley told me over the phone he can see where the minister is coming from.
“I can see his side on one level,” Mr Diffley said: “For example, he is saying I told you [the public] things would be difficult and it is difficult.
“However, from the public’s perspective, there were many who put their cross against Labour after they were promised change and they feel this hasn’t been achieved and they have been let down.”
“This poll shows people are struggling to see short term benefits of a new Labour government.”
I asked Mr Diffley a question you’d think would have a simple answer: Do voters like honesty?
The pollster told me it depends.
“I think they do in the sense when there are issues like Tulip Siddiq [the government minister who resigned over family links to an anti-corruption investigation in Bangladesh]. That kind of issue smacks into a wider distrust and politicians know that.
“However, people are becoming less loyal to individual parties and they want to see results quickly so when that doesn’t happen they feel let down.”
So honesty matters but people want more. They want delivery.