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Concern about cost of living, views on energy sources, and preferred date for IndyRef2: findings from new Ipsos Scotland polling

Concern about cost of living, views on energy sources, and preferred date for IndyRef2: findings from new Ipsos Scotland polling

Public Sector

New findings from our polling among the Scottish public in the latest Political Pulse from Ipsos in Scotland.

20 August 2022

The author(s)

Dr. Emily Gray Managing Director, Scotland
Rachel Ormston Public Affairs, Scotland
Tom Coyle Public Affairs, Scotland

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Cost of living

There is very high concern among Scots about the impact of the cost of living on their living standards over the next six months. Nine in ten (90%) say they are concerned about this, including half (50%) who are very concerned.

To what extent, if at all, are you concerned about the impact the cost of living might have on your own living standards over the next six months? Very concerned 50% Fairly concerned 40% Not very concerned 9% Not at all concerned 1%

Public views on energy sources

More of the Scottish public support the building of more nuclear power stations in Scotland (39%) than oppose it (32%). 24% neither support nor oppose this, while 5% say they don’t know.
The reverse is true when it comes to removing the current ban on fracking in Scotland. Almost four in ten Scots (39%) oppose removing the ban, while 27% would support it, 23% neither support nor oppose doing so, and 11% don’t know.

$Before this survey, how much, if anything, would you say you have seen or heard about debates about fracking to generate Scotland’s heat and electricity? A great deal 9% Quite a lot 30% Not very much 47% Nothing at all 10% Don't know 3%$

Public support is high for wind power: 80% of the Scottish public say they support the building of more offshore windfarms in Scotland and 71% support the building of more onshore windfarms.

$Would you support or oppose each of the following …? (Net Support %) Building more off-shore (at sea) windfarms in Scotland +74% Building more on-shore windfarms in Scotland +59% Building more nuclear power stations in Scotland +7% Removal of the current ban on fracking in Scotland -12%$

Indyref2?

The Scottish public is divided on when, if at all, there should be another referendum on Scottish independence. Almost three in ten (29%) support Nicola Sturgeon’s stated preferred timing of autumn 2023, 32% think it should be later than this (17% between 2024 and 2026, and 15% later than 2026), and three in ten (30%) say that there should never be another referendum.

When, if at all, do you think there should be another referendum on Scottish independence? In Autumn 2023 29% Between 2024 and 2026 17% Later than 2026 15% Never 30% Don't know 9%

Emily Gray, Managing Director of Ipsos in Scotland, commented:

There is overwhelming concern among the Scottish public about the impact of the cost of living crisis on them personally, which looks set to become more acute in the coming months. Amid the cost of living and energy crises these results suggest some pragmatism among Scots about where energy comes from, including the building of new nuclear power stations – although the public do not support removing the current Holyrood ban on fracking.

Technical Note

Ipsos interviewed a representative quota sample of 1,000 adults aged 16+ in Scotland.
Interviews took place online between 12th and 15th August 2022.
Data has been weighted to the known offline population proportions.
Where results do not sum to 100%, this may be due to computer rounding, multiple responses, or the exclusion of “don’t know” categories.
All polls are subject to a wide range of potential sources of error.