Sturgeon approval rating hit, says poll

NICOLA Sturgeon’s personal approval rating has slumped since she ended her daily Covid briefings, suggesting voters are increasingly unhappy with her domestic record.

A new Yougov poll for The Times found the First Minster’s rating has fallen almost 40 points since its peak last year, when she was on TV almost daily, although she remains the most popular political leader in Scotland.

Ms Sturgeon’s approval rating hit +50 in August last year, when 72 per cent of voters said she was doing well as First Minister, while 22% said she was doing badly.

Her rating this month is down to +12, with 53% saying she is doing well, compared to 41% saying she is doing badly. Just before May’s Holyrood election it was +27.

The decline coincides with the independence debate stalling and an increased focus on the SNP’S record on health and education.

However, Ms Sturgeon remains the only Scottish leader with a positive rating, and other leaders have seen declines as well.

The poll was released ahead of this weekend’s online SNP annual national conference.

SNP depute leader John Swinney will today reassure the conference the party is in “great shape”, and say its first priority is steering Scotland safely through the Covid pandemic.

But he will add: “As we look to the future, we will urge the people of Scotland to think about what kind of country they want to live in when the pandemic is over. Our case for Scotland’s future is one based on optimism and ambition. A belief that our nation has what it takes to be a successful independent nation.

“And a belief that the people who live here can take better decisions about their lives rather than leaving Westminster in control. That is the case we will make in the months ahead – and that is the case which will lead us to independence.”