Humza’s popularity in freefall with Scots who voted SNP, poll reveals
HUMZA Yousaf’s popularity with SNP voters has plummeted dramatically, according to a new poll.
The First Minister now has negative approval ratings with people who voted SNP in the last General election.
his popularity has plunged in a period where his controversial hate crime law, which he forced through when he was justice secretary, has come into force.
The research by Norstat, formerly known as Panelbase, found that only 29 per cent of SNP voters from 2019 thought he was doing a good job, while 36 per cent felt he was doing a bad job.
It gives him an overall approval rating of -7 among SNP voters, compared to +14 in the researchers’ last poll in January.
his overall approval rating with Scottish voters was -32 following a 15 percentage-point fall since the last poll, meaning he is now only narrowly ahead of Rishi Sunak, on -35, and Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross, on -38.
Sir John Curtice, professor of politics at Strathclyde University, told the Sunday Times that the research shows Mr Yousaf ‘is deeply and increasingly unpopular’. he added: ‘however, do the SNP have any option other than to make the best they can of Mr Yousaf’s leadership?’ Scottish Tory chairman Craig hoy said: ‘even SNP voters think humza Yousaf is doing a shoddy job as First Minister.’
The survey also showed Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer’s approval rating with Scottish voters dropped by 13 percentage points to -26, while Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar was on -17, down 14 points.
In General election voting intentions, Labour’s support fell by four percentage points to 32 per cent, leaving it neck and neck with the SNP, which fell one point to the same level – its lowest score in a Norstat/Panelbase poll since the 2014 independence referendum. The Conservatives remain on 16 per cent, with the Liberal Democrats on 9 per cent, Reform on 5 per cent, and the Greens on 4 per cent.
Sir John forecasts the SNP would win 18 seats, down 30 on the last General election, leaving it trailing Labour on 28 seats, compared to one in 2019. The Conservatives would win six seats, with the Lib Dems on five.
Scottish Labour deputy leader Dame Jackie Baillie said ‘Scotland is ready for change’.
But SNP deputy leader Keith Brown insisted: ‘Only the SNP is giving people the chance to vote for a better future.’