Nicola Sturgeon is best performing party leader, says UK-wide poll

Nicola Sturgeon has been the best performing political leader UK-wide during her handling of the Covid crisis, with 43 per cent approval, according to a new poll.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. Picture: Scottish Government/PA Wire

The First Minister proved more popular throughout the UK than Boris Johnson (37 per cent) and Labour leader Keir Starmer (40 per cent) in a poll of 2,003 Brits conducted by Opinium.

Ms Sturgeon's overall ratio stands at +15 per cent. This is the same as Mr Starmer, when those who disapprove of the job she are doing is taken into account.

A Scottish breakdown shows 57 per cent (a +24 per cent rating) of people in Scotland approve of the way Ms Sturgeon is handling her role.

Mr Johnson's has an overall ratio of -7 per cent.

The poll also finds 65 per cent of people in Scotland disapprove of the way Boris Johnson has fulfilled his role as Prime Minister.

A further question asking if Boris Johnson should resign showed 63 per cent across the UK say he should.

SNP deputy leader Keith Brown said: “This poll makes clear the strong support in Scotland for the outstanding leadership of First Minister Nicola Sturgeon as she leads the country through this unprecedented coronavirus crisis.

“Faced with the chaotic and incompetent leadership of Boris Johnson and a Westminster system which treats Scotland as an afterthought at best, more and more people are deciding that the best way forward for Scotland’s right to choose a future as an equal, independent country in the EU.

"We have the right to determine our own future.."

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