The new British Social Attitudes Survey, and the public reaction to it, told us quite a few things we knew already: lots of people are struggling financially, lots of people are unhappy with the NHS, lots of people think Brexit was the wrong decision, and the SNP think it could all be fixed by independence, ta-da. But the new survey could also be a chance to talk about an issue lots of people in public life seem to be in denial about. There it is, right in front of us, and yet politicians and commentators, with Nelsonian blindness, talk about other things instead.

The specifics the survey reveals on money, the NHS and Brexit are as follows: 26% of people say they’re struggling on their current income – a record high; 59% are dissatisfied with the health service – again, a record high (in 2019, it was 25%). The figures on Brexit are overwhelming too: 63% say they would be likely to vote to rejoin the EU in a second referendum, which makes it tempting to go up to the ones who voted for Brexit last time and say in a very loud voice: told you! But that would be childish.

A commentary on the new survey written by Sir John Curtice (love him, who doesn’t) delves into some of the stuff that might be going on with the figures. The public are well aware of Britain’s problems, he says; indeed, lots of them are feeling it directly. But Sir John also says that rather than turning their backs on the state, for the most part the public are still inclined to look to government to provide solutions. They also feel that most people on low and middle incomes are paying enough tax already but suspect some of the better-off could pay more. If the people who run the survey had asked me for my opinion, I would........

© Herald Scotland