TWO thirds of Scots trust Nicola Sturgeon's government to work in the country's best interests compared to less than one quarter who back UK ministers, a new study has found.

The Scottish social attitudes survey for 2021/22 has found that 66 per cent of people in Scotland trust the Scottish Government, compared to 22% who have faith in the UK Government to do the right thing.

While trust in the Scottish Government to work in the country's best long-term interests has risen in the latest survey, it has not surpassed a 2015 peak when 73% has faith in SNP ministers to do the right thing.

Scots believe education should be the SNP Government’s top priority – but more people now believe ministers should focus on inequality rather than the economy amid the cost-of-living crisis.

According to the study, supporters of the SNP (25%) and the Labour party (27%) were more likely than Conservative party supporters (3%) to identify the reduction of inequality as the number one priority for government action.

Trust in the Scottish Government has increased by 5% since 2019, after Ms Sturgeon's administration was responsible for the country's response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Nine in ten of those who held a positive view of how Scotland handled the pandemic trusted the Scottish Government to work in Scotland’s best interests "just about always/most of the time", compared with 35% of those who viewed Scotland’s pandemic performance negatively.

In comparison, 11% of those who held a positive view of how Scotland had handled the pandemic trusted the UK Government, while 37% of those who held a negative view of Scotland’s pandemic performance did so.

According to the weighted survey of 1,130 Scots aged 16 and older, education has overtaken the economy as people's biggest priority for the Scottish Government to focus on, while reducing inequality has also pipped the economy with the public believing it should be given more prominence as the cost-of-living crisis takes its toll.

The study was conducted between October last year and March 2022.

People in Scotland are more likely to trust the SNP Government (48%) and their local council (31%) to make fair decisions than the UK Government (15%).

The research found that 58% of Scots now believe the Scottish Government have more influence over how Scotland is run, compared to just 40% in 2019.

Three-quarters (75%) of people in Scotland believe the Scottish Government ought to have the most influence over the way Scotland is run, compared with 14% who thought the UK Government should.

In 2019, 43% of Scots believed the UK Government almost never worked in Scotland's best interests, but this has increased slightly to 46%, according to the new findings.

Only 11% of Scots believe the Scottish Government almost never work in the country's best interests.

The report states: "People in Scotland generally had more trust in the Scottish Government to work in Scotland’s best interests than they had in the government at Westminster."

SNP Constitution Secretary, Angus Robertson, said: “The findings in this survey demonstrate continued faith in the Scottish Government to deliver on behalf of the people of Scotland.

"They clearly show that despite these uncertain times, people agree with the Scottish Government’s priorities to build a fairer, greener, wealthier Scotland.

“Despite these figures being from earlier in the year it is clear the cost-of-living crisis was starting to impact family finances and alarm bells were ringing about the economy. The Scottish Government is working tirelessly to provide support to those who need it most. We are increasing the Scottish Child Payment to £25 per week and extending it to eligible children under 16 in the coming weeks, helping thousands of additional families this winter.

"We are also continuing to urge the UK Government to take all of the necessary steps to support the most vulnerable through this profoundly difficult time.

“Given the clear democratic mandate we have, not to mention the continued trust the public has in the Scottish Government to act in their interest, we will work to ensure people have a choice on independence, ensuring that choice is an informed one.”

The Scottish Greens have claimed the party's influence in government has had an impact on public attitudes.

Scottish Greens co-leader, Lorna Slater, said: “People can see and recognise the positive impact that the Scottish Greens are having as part of the Scottish Government, and the steps that we are taking to build a fairer, greener and better future for Scotland.

“We have been in government for less than 18 months but have already introduced an emergency rent freeze to protect tenants over the winter, as well as free bus travel for everyone under 22, and we have more than doubled the Scottish Child Payment to £25 a week for every eligible child.

“We are working for our environment and have delivered greater investment in recycling and renewables as well as a ban on new incineration and record funding for walking, wheeling and cycling infrastructure.

“All of this stands in stark contrast to a cruel and incompetent Tory government in Westminster, which has delivered a reckless Brexit that has led to higher prices while hurting jobs.

"They have lost control of the economy and given us runaway inflation, skyrocketing bills and soaring interest rates.

"These results underline how distant and detached Rishi Sunak and his Cabinet colleagues are from the people of Scotland.

“The survey shows the positive impact we are having with devolution. With the powers of a normal country we could do so much more. Independence would allow us to do even more to take a different and better path and to build a Scotland that works for people and the planet.”

According to the study, the majority of people in Scotland, 64%, believe the Scottish Parliament is giving Scotland a stronger voice in the UK, with only 7% thinking it was giving Scotland a weaker voice.

The majority of people in Scotland (64%) think the level of taxation and spending on health, education and social benefits should be increased, 32% believe the level of taxation and spending should stay the same and 3% said  it should decrease.

A UK Government spokesperson said: "We will continue to work closely with the Scottish Government and others to respond to the shared challenges we face and improve the lives of people in Scotland.

"From our furlough scheme which supported a million Scottish jobs through Covid, to our energy price cap which is cutting fuel bills for households, businesses and the public sector, the UK Government is delivering for people in Scotland.

“We are investing £2 billion pounds in communities across Scotland, ensuring we level up right across the UK."