Humza Yousaf popularity UP since SNP​ leadership race - poll

The polling conducted by Ipsos Scotland found that Humza Yousaf’s favourability has improved from a net rating of -20 to -12 since March.

The survey found that none of the Scottish or Westminster party leaders included received a positive rating from the public.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar receives the least negative overall rating – 26% were favourable towards him and 34% unfavourable, as in -8 overall.

While Humza Yousaf has a higher favourability rating at 31%, he also had a higher amount saying they were unfavourable at 43% which brought his overall rating down.

Douglas Ross and Rishi Sunak, meanwhile, received the most negative ratings, with ‘net’ scores of -47 and -46 respectively.

The polling also found that Scots are unimpressed by the Scottish Government’s record on the economy, but also aren’t convinced Labour would do better.

Twice as many Scots think the Scottish Government is doing a bad job managing the economy as say they are doing a good job (50% vs. 25%).

However, just 29% say a Labour Scottish Government would do a better job on the economy – 23% say they would do worse and 48% think it would make no difference or are unsure.

To note, the Scottish Government doesn’t have full control of the economy, with many powers reserved to the UK Government.

As set out in the Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (GERS) publication, less than 30% of revenue and 60% of expenditure is devolved to the Scottish Government.

The Scottish Government also received a net negative rating across other policy areas, including being particularly negative about whether the Scottish Government is improving the NHS in Scotland – 55% say they are doing a bad job of this, and 22% that they are doing a good job.

This hasn't seemed to overly impact the party popularity scores, with the SNP receiving the highest score at -7. 

Again, all the main political parties in Scotland received ‘net’ negative scores from the public. 

The Scottish Conservative and Unionist party receives the most negative rating, while Scottish Labour and the SNP are viewed less negatively.

Emily Gray, Managing Director at Ipsos in Scotland, commented: “Humza Yousaf’s first Programme for Government places a strong emphasis on growing the economy, alongside tackling poverty and inequality and delivering on public services.

"These findings indicate the Scottish public see considerable room for improvement in the SNP Government’s performance across all these areas. Perceptions of their handling of the economy, in particular, are more negative now than when we last asked this in March.

"However, the public is not necessarily inclined to think a Labour Scottish Government would do a better job.”