Labour and Tory economic policies 'like choosing between gonorrhoea and chlamydia', Scottish voters say

The difference between Labour and Conservative economic policies is “like choosing between gonorrhoea and chlamydia”, according to new Scottish research by pollster Lord Ashcroft.

Focus groups carried out in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen at the start of this month reveal candid insights into what the public thinks in the run up to the Holyrood 2026 vote.

Carried out between 1-3 April, the sessions included voters “whose support tends to waver between Labour and the SNP, or between Labour and the Conservatives”.

Many of those who had switched their vote from the SNP at the general election cited the Operation Branchform probe into party finances as the biggest single factor. Others voted tactically to oust the previous Conservative UK Government.

However, many were now unhappy with the Labour administration’s record in office, with one saying: “Choosing between a Tory austerity and Labour austerity is like choosing between gonorrhoea and chlamydia.”

Writing for Holyrood, Ashcroft found that “complaints about Keir Starmer and the Labour government were vociferous and familiar, largely echoing what we have heard this year in England”, with issues raised about illegal immigration, welfare cuts, employers’ National Insurance and cuts in the winter fuel payment. Respondents in Aberdeen were particularly concerned with restrictions on the oil and gas industry.

And though some praised Starmer’s international performance and action on the minimum wage, others said promises to the electorate had been broken. One respondent said: “They’ve obviously been handed a really crap situation, but they’ve gone very heavy with all these cuts very quickly. It feels more hurtful because Labour aren’t meant to be the party that do that. You expect it from the Tories.” Another said: “I thought Labour were going to give us a little bit of a fresh start, but it hasn’t really happened yet.”

On whether Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar is speaking up for Scotland within the UK Labour Party, there was further scepticism. “He was challenged in the Scottish Parliament [about UK Labour policies] and you could see him cringing when reporters were throwing in the questions. He just didn’t know what he was allowed to say,” one respondent said. “Does he disagree with some of the decisions being made down south, and that’s why he’s slightly quieter? Or is he doing it internally? I think I’d be reassured if people were speaking their minds rather than just following the leader,” said another. “There have been some disagreements between Anas and the UK party, but some of me thinks that’s staged a little bit. They’re the fights they don’t really care about,” said a third.

On the Scottish Government, respondents criticised its record on education, drugs deaths, child poverty, police numbers and the failure to fully dual the A9. Some defended improvements to the care system and the handling of Covid. Independence was now less of an issue for former SNP voters, following the pandemic.

There was further criticism of former first minister Nicola Sturgeon’s record on “identity politics” and issues like gender recognition reform, with current FM John Swinney seen as “stable” but not “the type of person who could lead an independence campaign”.

Many respondents expected the Holyrood 2026 election to go to the SNP. One person who voted Labour at the last election said: “I think until UK Labour started making the mess they’re making now, Sarwar had a good chance to be first minister. Now I think he’s had it.”