More than half of Scots satisfied with SNP - poll

By SCOTT MACNAB
Published on 16/11/2012 11:49

MORE than half of Scots are satisfied with the way the SNP Government is running the country, the latest polling evidence has found.

• Majority of Scots satisfied with SNP administration

• Poll carried out before recent SNP troubles

• Approval high among 18-24 year olds (+50% of), men (+23%) and public sector workers (+22%)

The Ipsos MORI survey was carried out before the Nationalists’ recent troubles over resignations, EU legal advice and college funding.

The latest Scottish Public Opinion Monitor found 54% are satisfied with the performance of the Nationalist administration in Edinburgh, compared to 39% who are dissatisfied, giving a net satisfaction rating of +15%.

This is a stark contrast to the UK Government’s net satisfaction rating of -40% among voters across Britain.

The poll was carried out between October 8-15, but the SNP has been hit by a series of damaging blows since then.

Two MSPs quit the party after it voted to join Nato and Alex Salmond insitigated an investigation into himself amid claims that he “lied” about legal advice on joining the EU.

And just this week the SNP was forced into an embarrassing double apology after both Mr Salmond and education secretary Mike Russell made misleading claims about college funding.

Christopher McLean at Ipsos MORI Scotland, said: “Our poll shows that a majority of Scots think that the Scottish Government is doing a good job.

“This will be particularly encouraging for the SNP given that they have now been in power for over five years and given the comparable approval rating of the UK Government among voters across Britain.”

Net satisfaction with the SNP government is particularly high among young people (+50% of 18-24 year olds), men (+23%) and those working in the public sector (+22%).

Unsurprisingly, SNP supporters are the most likely to approve of the Scottish Government’s performance, giving a net satisfaction score of +68%. Liberal Democrat supporters are the second most positive with a net satisfaction rating of +17%, while Labour and Conservative supporters are more likely to be dissatisfied, with scores of -13% and -26% respectively.