General Election 2010: How the figures stack up in our exclusive Scotsman/YouGov poll

Published on Wednesday 5 May 2010 11:50

TODAY'S poll is the fifth YouGov survey published by The Scotsman and Scotland on Sunday in this election campaign, providing readers with the most comprehensive coverage anywhere of the Scottish campaign.

No other newspaper has matched our unrivalled insight into your views in this, the most crucial general election for a generation.

John Curtice, professor of politics at Strathclyde University, said last night: "The Scotsman and Scotland on Sunday have provided the most regular polling coverage of any newspaper in Scotland during this campaign."

VOTING INTENTIONS:

WHAT IT MEANS FOR SEATS:

Westminster:

Labour: 39 (-2)

Conservatives: 1 (n/c)

Liberal Democrats: 12 (+1)

SNP: 7 (+1)

Holyrood

Labour: 47 (+1)

SNP: 40 (-7)

Liberal Democrats: 21 (+5)

Conservatives: 18 (+1)

THE LEADERS:

Q: From what you know, how good or bad a job is Gordon Brown doing as Prime Minister?

Good: 43%

Bad: 39 %

Neither: 15%

Don't know: 3%

Q: How good or bad a job is David Cameron doing as Conservative leader?

Good: 32%

Bad: 34%

Neither: 30%

Don't know: 5%

Q: How good or bad a job is Alex Salmond doing as First Minister of Scotland?

Good: 38%

Bad: 36%

Neither: 23%

Don't know: 4%

Q: How good or bad a job is Nick Clegg doing as Liberal Democrat leader?

Good: 53%

Bad: 13%

Neither: 29%

Don't know: 5%

INDEPENDENCE:

Q: The SNP wishes to hold a referendum on Scottish independence in due course. How would you vote if such a referendum were held tomorrow?

No: 58%

Yes: 28%

Don't know: 12%

Would not vote: 3%

Q: If the general election is won by the Conservative Party, would that make you more likely or less likely to vote for independence for Scotland?

Would still vote No: 42%

Would still vote Yes: 12%

More likely: 34%

Less likely: 4%

Don't know: 8%

Q: Do you agree or disagree with Alex Salmond's message that "more Nats means less cuts"?

Agree: 21%

Disagree: 43%

Neither: 20%

Don't know: 16%

BIGOTGATE:

Q: Gordon Brown referred to a woman who had questioned him about immigraton as a "bigot". Which of these statements is closer to your view?

It's a storm in a teacup. Mr Brown was simply trying to let off steam in private. We should not think the worse of him: 68%

Mr Brown is a hypocrite - saying one thing in public and the opposite in private: 30%

Don't know: 2%

• Gordon Brown's 'Bigotgate' gaffe was a storm in a teacup, say 68% of those polled by the Scotsman

HUNG PARLIAMENT:

Q: Imagine if, after the election, the Labour Party were to fall short of having an overall majority but could form a government with the help of the Liberal Democrats. Do you think ...?

Gordon Brown should step down and allow someone else to become Labour leader and Prime Minister: 46%

Gordon Brown should carry on as Labour leader and lead the new government: 42%

Don't know: 12%

Q: Imagine if, after the election, no single party had enough seats for an overall majority. Which of the following would you most like to see?

The Labour party to form a majority government with the Liberal Democrats? 44%

The Conservative party to form a majority government with the Liberal Democrats? 14%

The Conservatives to form a government that does not have a majority? 11%

The Labour party to form a government which does not have a majority? 10%

None of these: 11%

Don't know: 11%

Q: If, after the election, the Conservative party wins enough seats to form a majority government but wins very few seats in Scotland, which of the following would you most like to see the Scottish Government do?

Aim to defend Scotland's interests by working in cooperation with the Conservative government: 53%

Aim to defend Scotland's interests by refusing to cooperate with the Conservative government: 26%

Don't know: 16%

Other: 5%

CAMPAIGNING:

Q: Which, if any, of the following parties do you feel has fought the BEST campaign?

Liberal Democrats: 45%

Labour: 13%

Conservatives: 13%

Don't know: 12%

None of these: 11%

SNP: 7%

Q: Which, if any, of the parties do you feel has fought the WORST campaign?

Labour: 38%

Conservatives: 22%

SNP 19%

Don't know: 14%

None of these: 6%

Liberal Democrats: 2%

Q: How much difference did the leaders' debates make to how you will cast your vote?

No difference: 52%

Not much difference - it has made me think again but I will likely vote in the same way: 24%

A little difference - I am reconsidering how I will vote: 17%

A lot - I have changed how I would vote: 6%

Don't know: 1%

YouGov polled 1,507 adults on behalf of The Scotsman