STURGEON WAS DAMAGING THE SNP?

Supporting the official Covid story is not good for political leaders?

According to one poll, Labour were just two points behind the SNP in Scotland even before Nicola Sturgeon's resignation.

Labour were just TWO points behind the SNP in Scotland before Nicola Sturgeon's shock resignation as incumbent party continues to hemorrhage support, new poll shows

HOWEVER, a different poll (Kate Forbes takes an early lead) shows the SNP still lead by 10 points on 42 per cent of the vote share (down one percentage point from the last poll).

Labour have gained three percentage points and are on 32 per cent.

The poll, by Savanta for The Scotsman newspaper 

(Kate Forbes takes an early lead) shows - 

1. Humza Yousaf, is the least popular of the front-runners for the SNP leadership among both the public and party voters.

Yousaf has the support of just seven per cent of SNP voters and six per cent of the wider public.

2. Support for independence has remained static.

Support for Yes remains at 44 per cent, with No on 46 per cent and undecideds on nine percent.



3. Finance secretary, Kate Forbes (above), has a small lead, with 18 per cent of SNP voters choosing her to succeed Sturgeon.

She is the most popular among the wider public with 14 per cent backing her.

4. Angus Robertson (Above right - in Israel), is the next most popular with 14 per cent of SNP voters and nine per cent of the Scottish public.

5. The SNP still lead by 10 points on 42 per cent of the vote share (down one percentage point from the last poll).

Labour have gained three percentage points and are on 32 per cent.

6. The Scottish Conservatives have lost two points, down to 17 per cent, with the Scottish Liberal Democrats unchanged on six per cent.

Such a result could see the SNP lose seven of their seats but remaining by far the largest party on 41 seats, with Labour winning 12 seats in total

Leader of the Scottish Tories, Douglas Ross, would be set to lose three seats, winning just three, leaving them level with the Liberal Democrats who would lose one seat from their original four.



7. On the regional list vote, Labour are now within five points of the SNP, with Anas Sarwar’s party on 27 points (up three) and Nicola Sturgeon’s on 32 (no change).

Thus the 2026 parliament might have 

59 SNP  (down 5) 
31 Labour (up 9)

16 Conservatives (down 15)

15 Greens (up 7)

8 Liberal Democrats (up 4)