'Widespread lack of enthusiasm' for upcoming Holyrood election
The new research found Reform UK’s favourability in Scotland has dipped since the autumn.
There is a “widespread lack of enthusiasm” about the upcoming Holyrood election, according to new research.
Ipsos’ Scottish political pulse survey suggests John Swinney is managing to hang on to the public’s favour while Reform UK is dipping in popularity and trust.
The survey found 34 per cent of Scots have a favourable opinion of the SNP, which is a marginal improvement on the party’s position in September.
At the same time, Reform UK’s favourability has dipped by 4.5 points, with 58 per cent of the public giving Nigel Farage’s party an unfavourable rating.
Mr Swinney is the best rated of all the political leaders in Scotland according to the polling, however no party leader is viewed positively overall by the public.
The First Minister scored a net favourability of -12. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar received -26 and Reform’s Scottish leader Malcolm Offord received -37,
Emily Gray, managing director of Ipsos Scotland, said: “Ahead of the Scottish Parliament election campaigns starting next week, our latest Scottish political pulse suggests a widespread lack of enthusiasm among the public towards both political leaders and parties.
“That said, the findings are more encouraging for the SNP than for any other party, with John Swinney the highest-rated party leader and slight improvements in the public’s views of their performance in government on living standards and managing the economy.
“Meanwhile there are warning signs for Reform UK, with falls in both the party’s and UK leader Nigel Farage’s favourability ratings, and their Scottish leader, Malcolm Offord, emerging as the worst rated of the Scottish party leaders.”
The report added that the public’s perception of the SNP’s record in government “remains broadly negative”, with only three in 10 Scots thinking the Scottish Government has done a good job of improving living standards for people on the lowest incomes.
Most notably there is a “desire for change”, as 64 per cent of the public think Scotland needs a completely fresh team of leaders. However, “Scots do not currently see a better alternative”.
Only 22 per cent think Scottish Labour is “ready to form the next Scottish Government”, which is 12 points lower than it was in March 2024, four months ahead of the UK general election. Even fewer thought Reform UK was ready to become the next government at only 19 per cent.
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