LABOUR is gaining ground on the SNP in Scotland in the wake of the party’s crisis over finances – but voters think Humza Yousaf will make a better First Minister than Anas Sarwar, a new poll has found.
While the SNP is still in the lead when it comes to constituency voting intention for a Holyrood election, Labour has overtaken the party when it comes to the regional list ballot, according to the latest Redfield & Wilton Strategies survey.
The SNP is still also ahead when it comes to General Election voting intention at 35% - but that has dropped 10 points on the 2019 UK vote.
Labour has narrowed the gap significantly, increasing from 19% to 32%, while the Conservatives have slumped from 25% to 18%.
When it comes to Holyrood voting intention, a similar picture has emerged with 36% backing the SNP in the constituency vote compared to 32% for Labour.
However Labour is ahead of the SNP when voters are asked who they would vote for on their regional list ballot. The Labour Party is on 27%, with the SNP in second place on 25%, and the Scottish Conservatives in third place on 19%.
Support for independence has also fallen by two points to 42% compared to a month ago, with No ahead by ten points on 52% and don’t knows at 6%.
But the poll, which was carried out between 30 April and 2 May, also noted: “Support for Scottish independence remains strong among younger Scottish voters”.
It found 48% of those aged 16-to-24 and 55% of 25-to-34-year-olds said they would vote for leaving the UK.
In comparison, 37% of those aged 55-to-64 and 32% of those aged over 65 would vote ‘yes.’
Yousaf’s approval rating is now minus 17, down ten points from last month.
But the good news for the SNP leader is that Scottish voters believe he would be a better First Minister for Scotland than either Douglas Ross, who he leads 37% to 25%, or Anas Sarwar, who he leads 31% to 29%.
Nearly six in ten voters say the likelihood of them voting for the SNP in a UK General Election or a Scottish Parliament election is unaffected by Yousaf’s election as First Minister.
