{"id":698528,"date":"2026-01-15T21:55:14","date_gmt":"2026-01-15T21:55:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/698528\/"},"modified":"2026-01-15T21:55:14","modified_gmt":"2026-01-15T21:55:14","slug":"andrew-neil-says-scotland-has-a-death-wish-after-poll-shows-snp-on-course-to-retain-power","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/698528\/","title":{"rendered":"Andrew Neil says ‘Scotland has a death wish’ after poll shows SNP on course to retain power"},"content":{"rendered":"

With one in seven pounds raised in tax in Scotland now paid out in benefits, the SNP’s strategy of bribing voters appears to be paying off… much to the disgust and disbelief of many<\/p>\n

20:25, 15 Jan 2026Updated 20:27, 15 Jan 2026<\/p>\n

\"Boarded<\/p>\n

Scotland has a ‘death wish’, says veteran broadcaster Andrew Neil(Image: )<\/p>\n

Andrew Neil <\/a>spoke for millions of bewildered Scots voters when he responded to the latest poll showing the SNP on course for a fifth consecutive term of office.<\/p>\n

Despite an NHS is on its knees with record waiting lists, cancelled operations and bed blocking<\/a>, a social care system in disarray, schools beset by violence and failing standards, underfunded councils that cannot perform basic functions<\/a> such as collecting rubbish and fixing potholes, police, ambulance and fire services stretched to breaking point, high streets that are filled with boarded-up shops and pubs due to sky-high rates and reckless policies<\/a>, punishingly high taxes<\/a> for middle earners and an economy that hasn’t shown any signs of life in years, the Nats remain popular with a certain large cross section of society.<\/p>\n

The answer, perhaps, lies in the devolved benefits bill which will be hiked by a further \u00a3650million in the SNP’s budget earlier this week; one in seven pounds raised in tax in Scotland is now doled out in welfare payments.<\/p>\n

Earlier on Thursday, a poll from Survation suggested the SNP under John Swinney are on course to return 57 MSPs in the Scottish Parliament election on May 7, ahead of Labour on 21 and Reform with 18.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: Peanuts! Russell Findlay tells John Swinney his tax cut ‘wouldn’t buy you a bag of peanuts’<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Clearly flabbergasted, veteran broadcaster and journalist Neil, 76 \u2013 who was born and bred in Paisley \u2013 declared on X: “Scotland has a death wish. Continued decline inevitable with these engrained voting habits. Nobody to blame but themselves.”<\/p>\n

The survey, carried out between January 8-12, came back with the following results, compared to the organisation’s last Scottish poll in October:<\/p>\n