A NEW poll has found support for independence at 53% - but what else did it reveal?
Ipsos Scottish Political Monitor balloted the views of over 1100 Scots aged over 16, revealing a 10 percentage point drop in support for the SNP.
However, it also revealed the Scottish public’s views on the gender reforms legal challenge, party leader popularity ratings and much more.
The National have picked out seven key points from the latest poll below.
Popularity ratings
SCOTTISH Labour leader Anas Sarwar is the only political leader in the poll to receive a positive net satisfaction rating, of 40%, while 33% are dissatisfied. However, it should be noted that 27% said that they didn’t know enough to rate him.
On First Minister Humza Yousaf (pictured below), 35% of those polled were satisfied with his performance in the top job, while 44% are dissatisfied, giving a net satisfaction rating of -9. His predecessor Nicola Sturgeon had a +9 positive rating in Ipsos's December poll.
Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross receives a negative net satisfaction rating at -25, but is an improvement from his December rating of -38.
And, dissatisfaction with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has increased compared to six months ago, with a -29 satisfaction rating among Scots, with 29% satisfied and 58% dissatisfied with his performance as PM.
Labour leader Keir Starmer’s ratings remained at a similar level, with 34% satisfied with his performance, compared to 47% who are dissatisfied. This gives Starmer a net satisfaction rating of -12 compared to -13 in December.
Gender Reforms
THE FM announced that the Scottish Government would be launching a legal challenge against the UK Government’s decision to block Holyrood’s gender reforms from becoming law. With a lengthy court battle on the cards, Ipsos asked those polled for their views on the legal challenge.
Half of Scots, 51%, said they believed the Scottish Government should not be going to court to challenge the UK Government’s decision, while 39% said they should be going ahead with the challenge.
Of those who voted for the SNP at the 2021 Holyrood election, 57% said that they believed the Scottish Government should challenge the use of a Section 35 order in court. However, 36% of SNP voters also said that the Scottish Government should not be going to court.
NHS tops priorities
WHILE voters who back different political parties are likely to have different priorities, the latest Ipsos poll has shown that the NHS and healthcare top the list as the most important issue facing Scotland for SNP (38%), Tory (61%) and Labour (56%) voters.
While Scottish independence and devolution is a joint top priority for SNP voters (38%), it is only a priority for 19% of Tory voters, and does not make the list of priorities for Labour supporters.
Elsewhere, education and schools came second on the list for Tory priorities (43%), fourth for Labour (34%) and fifth for SNP voters (22%).
SNP voters also said inflation and the cost of living were pressing issues (33%), as did 35% of Labour voters who had it as their second priority. Meanwhile, 30% of Tory voters said that the economy was a top priority.
And, 26% of Tory voters, as well as 21% of Labour voters, said that a lack of faith in politicians, parties and government was one of their biggest issues.
Trust in parties
But who do voters in Scotland trust? The SNP are still the most trusted party across a number of areas compared to Unionists.
A total of 46% of those polled said they believe that the SNP will stand up for Scotland’s interests, compared to 18% for Labour and 13% for the Tories.
On managing education and schools, 36% of voters believe the SNP are the most trusted, compared to 23% for Labour and 12% for the Tories. And on growing the economy, over a third (36%) think the SNP are the most trusted, compared to 20% for Labour and 16% for the Tories.
The SNP are also the most trusted party to manage the NHS (34%), tackle the cost of living crisis (31%) and act with honesty and integrity (26%).
However, the SNP has seen a small percentage drop from 2022 on its trustworthiness to manage the NHS (-3), grow the economy (-2) and tackle the cost of living crisis (-2).
Meanwhile, Labour has seen an increase across the board, from managing the NHS (+5), growing the economy (+4), tackling the cost of living crisis (+4) and managing education (+3).
Voting intention by age
It’s always interesting to look at the generational divide amongst voters, with the latest Ipsos poll showing that the SNP still has an advantage amongst younger voters.
Of those aged 16-34, 50% (77) backed the SNP, with Labour in second place at 28% (43), the Tories on 9% (14), Greens on 7% (11) and LibDems on 4% (6). The SNP also still lead amongst the 35-54 age group, 43% (101) would vote for the SNP, 30% (71) for Labour, 13% (3) for the Tories, 8% (19) for the LibDems and 3% (7) for the Greens.
For those aged over 55, the SNP still lead but have the lowest vote share on 36% (120), Labour come second at 29% (95), the Tories at 24% (79), Lib Dems at 7% (22), and Greens at 1% (4).
Geographical voting intentions
THE Ipsos poll also showed regional support for the five parties across different areas of Scotland. The SNP lead in the central belt on 40%, followed closely by Labour on 39%, and the Tories in third place on 13%. In Glasgow, Labour overtakes the SNP to take the lead at 40%, with the SNP not far behind on 36%.
In the Highlands and Islands, the poll found support for the SNP in the lead at 48%, followed by Labour on 19%, and the Tories on 18%.
The poll found a similar trend in Lothian with SNP support at 48%, with Labour in Second at 25%, Mid Scotland and Fife backing the SNP by 46%, with Labour at 20%, and South Scotland favouring the SNP at 45%, with Labour on 24% and the Tories on 20%.
In North East Scotland, the SNP’s support is lower at 39%, with the Tories in second place with 23%, while Labour are third on 20%.
Labour came in first for West Scotland with 40% of the vote share, followed by the SNP on 30%, and the Tories on 20%.
Views on independence
It wouldn’t be a poll on Scottish political views if it didn’t include Scottish independence.
With support at 53%, despite the SNP showing a dip in support, Yes is still in the lead by six points if a referendum was held tomorrow. With undecided voters included, support for Scottish independence is still at 51%.
