Scottish Christians have become “politically homeless” and vast numbers don’t know who to support at the Holyrood elections in May, according to a new study.
It reveals support for the SNP among churchgoers has collapsed in the last two years as backing for Reform has exploded.
The findings are revealed in the second survey entitled ‘Faith and Public Life in Scotland: A National Assessment of Christian Political Identity and Public Engagement’. The first report was published in 2024.
You can read the Full Report here.
It states that in the last two years SNP support has plummeted 22% from 35% to just 13%.
Conservative and Labour support both declined too, by 9% and 6% respectively,
In contrast, Reform shows a notable increase, rising from 1% to 14% – especially strong in Catholic and Free church denominations.
But the most pronounced change is observed in the “Don’t Know” category, which rises substantially from 16% in 2024 to 42% now.
The report, based on survey data commissioned for think tank Logos Scotland, says this suggests a marked increase in political uncertainty or disengagement among respondents. This trend may reflect broader volatility in the political environment or declining confidence in existing party options.
The researchers, who quizzed more than 1000 Christians towards the end of 2025, also uncovered huge concerns among people of faith about their attitude to the political elite – with 72.4% rejecting the premise that the government supports Christian principles.
The implication, the report states of these figures, is a strong consensus that there is a disconnect between the Scottish Government’s recent actions or policies and traditional Christian principles, suggesting a perception of secularization or a shift in values within the political administration.
In addition, respondents expressed overwhelming concern about the negative reaction or criticism that Christian politicians receive. A combined 81.3% of respondents either agree (36.2%) or strongly agree (45.1%) with that statement.
The report authors suggest that fear of backlash is not a marginal sentiment but a widely shared perception, implying many Christians view political engagement as carrying significant reputational or social risk.
As a result, this perceived hostility may discourage Christian political participation and contribute to a broader hesitation among Christians to take public stances on contentious political issues.
Shona Haslam, chief executive of Logos Scotland said:
“There is a political vacuum when it comes to a values based, socially left, economically right party where constitutional issues are not the primary concern
“When you have parties polling this closely with such a large don’t know element then the outcome of the election looks more up in the air than some polls might suggest.
“The Christian vote shifting to this extent, particularly in some remote rural constituencies could have a big impact. It will depend on where the electorate lands and whether they turn out to vote.
‘What this poll shows is the political space that exists among this sizeable demographic that could make a big difference in certain parts of Scotland.
“Some analysts may think Reform espousing values based on Christian principle, on the basis of this polling, is a good strategy for them. It might be interesting to see if other parties do likewise in the hunt for support?”
“This poll demonstrates the political homelessness of many people with a Christian faith in Scotland.
“They feel badly let down by the traditional parties but also the Scottish Government. Over 72% do not think the Government supports Christian principles and over 80% are concerned at the negative reaction to Christian politicians. There is definitely some political space in Scotland for a party that wants to reach this demographic. This is a group that is looking for a political home, one that is based on values and integrity.”
The study involved self-identified, actively engaged Christians across denominations, providing one of the most comprehensive contemporary assessments of Christian political identity and civic confidence in Scotland.
The report examines how engaged Scottish Christians understand their place in the public square and how their political attitudes are evolving in advance of a critical national election.
The report states: “The findings suggest a constituency that is socially engaged but politically unsettled. As Scotland approaches its next election cycle, the trajectory of Christian political identity remains fluid.”
It adds:
“Scottish Christians’ perceptions of faith and public life are rapidly changing in relation to the current social and political environment … this study highlights … the growing uncertainty regarding political representation that Christians in Scotland express today.
“Indecision ultimately emerges as the most unifying feature across denominations, as many Scottish Christians feel politically homeless.
“Scottish Christians are not disengaged. They demonstrate strong commitment to faith and community, yet remain divided in their political visions, reflecting a landscape shaped less by apathy than by genuine ideological diversity.”
The report asks:
“In an era of increasing global secularization, should Scottish Christians be concerned about the diminishing public influence of their voices in politics and local communities? More broadly, how do Scottish Christians understand their role within a nation that has long been shaped by Christian traditions, even as Scotland’s public institutions and societal norms have undergone significant secularization?”
The report authors state the figures indicate that a substantial portion of churchgoers across Scotland’s major denominations either do not strongly identify with a particular political party or are reluctant to publicly associate themselves with one.
Among respondents who did express a political affiliation, the findings reveal several important differences across denominations.
20% of Catholic respondents identified with the SNP, and Church of Scotland respondents showed a similarly strong showing of 17%. These are the highest SNP percentages among the denominations surveyed. This pattern suggests that both Catholics and Church of Scotland attendees may feel a stronger connection to broader themes associated with the SNP – such as Scottish national identity, social-democratic policy preferences, or support for increased Scottish autonomy.
Support for the Scottish National Party (SNP) is strongest among younger and middle-aged respondents before declining among those aged 75 or older (10%).
By contrast, support for Reform is relatively evenly distributed across age groups, ranging from approximately 11% to 16%, with slightly higher proportions among older respondents.
This consistency suggests that Reform’s appeal is not strongly tied to generational identity, but may instead reflect broader dissatisfaction with mainstream parties or scepticism toward established political institutions.
Ultimately, these results suggest that many Scottish Christians increasingly feel “politically homeless,” reflecting a community that remains deeply engaged with their faith but is struggling to find a clear or unified political home in an evolving and volatile public square.
Key Findings include:
1. Political Uncertainty Has Increased Dramatically – with a significant weakening of partisan attachment among engaged Christians.
2. Church Affiliation Matters – Political affiliation varies meaningfully across church traditions, yet no denomination forms a cohesive political voting bloc. Scottish Christianity is politically heterogeneous.
3. Education Is Not a Primary Driver – Educational attainment does not strongly predict political affiliation within this sample.
4. Gender Shapes Party Support, Not Political Certainty – Men are disproportionately represented among certain party supporters, but uncertainty is broadly distributed across genders.
5. Political Uncertainty Is Cross-Generational – High levels of indecision appear across all age cohorts, indicating widespread volatility.
6. Strong Perception of Government Misalignment – A majority of respondents perceive misalignment between government policy and Christian principles.
7. Confidence in Public Faith Engagement Remains High – Despite political uncertainty, most respondents report strong confidence in publicly articulating their faith.