LABOUR is gaining ground on the SNP in Scotland in the wake of the party’s crisis over finances – but voters think Humza Yousaf will make a better First Minister than Anas Sarwar, a new poll has found.
While the SNP is still in the lead when it comes to constituency voting intention for a Holyrood election, Labour has overtaken the party when it comes to the regional list ballot, according to the latest Redfield & Wilton Strategies survey.
The SNP is still also ahead when it comes to General Election voting intention at 35% - but that has dropped 10 points on the 2019 UK vote.
Labour has narrowed the gap significantly, increasing from 19% to 32%, while the Conservatives have slumped from 25% to 18%.
When it comes to Holyrood voting intention, a similar picture has emerged with 36% backing the SNP in the constituency vote compared to 32% for Labour.
However Labour is ahead of the SNP when voters are asked who they would vote for on their regional list ballot. The Labour Party is on 27%, with the SNP in second place on 25%, and the Scottish Conservatives in third place on 19%.
Support for independence has also fallen by two points to 42% compared to a month ago, with No ahead by ten points on 52% and don’t knows at 6%.
But the poll, which was carried out between 30 April and 2 May, also noted: “Support for Scottish independence remains strong among younger Scottish voters”.
It found 48% of those aged 16-to-24 and 55% of 25-to-34-year-olds said they would vote for leaving the UK.
In comparison, 37% of those aged 55-to-64 and 32% of those aged over 65 would vote ‘yes.’
Yousaf’s approval rating is now minus 17, down ten points from last month.
READ MORE: Holyrood pro-indy majority despite drop in SNP support, says new poll
But the good news for the SNP leader is that Scottish voters believe he would be a better First Minister for Scotland than either Douglas Ross, who he leads 37% to 25%, or Anas Sarwar, who he leads 31% to 29%.
Nearly six in ten voters say the likelihood of them voting for the SNP in a UK General Election or a Scottish Parliament election is unaffected by Yousaf’s election as First Minister.
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