Two-thirds of Scots disapprove of UK Government, poll finds
A majority of Scots are unhappy with both governments at Holyrood and Westminster, a poll has found.
A survey by YouGov found two-thirds of people in Scotland disapproved of the UK Government’s record so far.
Even among those who voted for Labour at the general election in July, 53% were unhappy with the party’s performance in government.
A majority of Scots said they also disapproved of the Scottish Government, with 58% of those polled expressing a negative opinion.
Less than a quarter (22%) approved of the SNP’s performance in charge.
The figure is nearly double that of Labour, with just 12% expressing a positive view of Sir Keir Starmer’s Government.
Unlike Labour voters, though, 56% of the electorate who voted for the SNP at the general election thought John Swinney’s party was doing well at Holyrood.
Most voters from Labour (72%), the Liberal Democrats (73%) and Conservatives (92%) disapproved of the SNP.
Disapproval in the UK Government sits at 71% among SNP voters, 75% among Lib Dems and 84% among Scottish Conservative voters.
Even among Labour voters, just 24% viewed the party positively.
Asked about both governments, 47% of respondents disapproved of both Labour and the SNP while just 6% said they were satisfied with the two.
Around one in eight Scottish people (13%) approve of the government at Holyrood but disapprove of the one at Westminster, while 5% are the other way round.
The poll followed others in recent months which have shown a dramatic collapse in Labour’s vote share, with one poll suggesting Reform was in front of the UK’s governing party over the weekend among UK-wide voters.
Other polls show a similar decrease in Scottish Labour support. A survey carried out for The Herald by Find Out Now put support for the SNP at 31% on the constituency vote and 25% on the list vote.
It put Labour’s constituency vote at 19% and its list vote at 15%, while the Liberal Democrats were at 10% and 13% respectively, as were the Scottish Greens.
It comes amid a struggling UK economy and criticism of the Labour administration’s decision to axe winter fuel payments for most pensioners, which has proved unpopular with voters.
The UK Government has also faced attacks from the SNP over its decision not to compensate Waspi women or end the two-child benefit cap.
Support for the SNP has also dipped as the party faces an ongoing police investigation into its finances.
Support from voters also has waned following Nicola Sturgeon’s resignation in 2023 and a period of instability for the party that saw three leaders in just two years.
YouGov surveyed 1,106 people aged over 16 in Scotland between January 10 and 14.
Scottish deputy leader Rachael Hamilton said: “After 18 years of appalling failures and gross incompetence, it is clear more and more Scots are sick of this SNP government.
“They are tired of the nationalists obsessing over fringe issues, rather than what really concerns the public.
“Scots are paying the highest taxes in the UK yet are seeing their public services such as our NHS, schools and transport network continually decline.
“The SNP’s appalling record is now being compounded by the broken promises of Keir Starmer’s UK Labour Government after just seven months in office.
“Disillusioned voters are fed up with politicians breaking their promises.
“Under Russell Findlay’s leadership we’re standing up against the socialist consensus of the SNP and Labour which has failed Scots, and for those who just want politicians to show some common sense for a change.”
Jamie Hepburn, the Scottish Government minister for parliamentary business, said: “The data shows that approval in the Scottish Government is on a level with governments elsewhere and higher than the UK Government.
“The Scottish Government is focussed on people’s priorities: eradicating child poverty; growing the economy; improving public services such as our NHS; and tackling the climate crisis.”
The UK Government has been approached for comment.
