 | '18 months ago Blair told us that we had gone to war to uphold the authority of the United Nations. Last week Kofi Annan told us that the conflict was illegal.' SNP leader, Alex Salmond MP, 25 th September 2004. |  |
| '18 months ago Blair told us that we had gone to war to uphold the authority of the United Nations. Last week Kofi Annan told us that the conflict was illegal.' SNP leader, Alex Salmond MP, 25 th September 2004. | |
SCOTTISH Labour has been dealt a double blow in a new poll which reveals overwhelming disapproval of its record in government and a slump in support.
Only one in four Scots believes Jack McConnell is doing a good job, according to the findings, and a third of those questioned believe he is performing badly.
The findings mean the First Minister's approval rating is well below his two predecessors, Henry McLeish and Donald Dewar, and is at its lowest-ever level compared with previous surveys.
The YouGov poll also reveals that Labour could face harsh punishment from voters at the election, expected on May 5. It shows support for the party in Scotland has dropped to 33%.
If replicated at the polling booths it would see Labour lose nine seats, including that held by Scottish Secretary Alastair Darling.
The SNP, Liberals and Conservatives all stand to gain ground on Labour and are now neck-and-neck, according to the poll.
With Labour on 33%, the poll put the SNP and the Liberals tied for second place on 20%, with the Conservatives close behind on 19.
Translated into seats, Labour would have 37, the Liberals 13, the SNP six and the Conservatives three.
Labour strategists are sure to capitalise on the findings, hoping such polling will 'scare' their voters out and provide backing.
ONLY one in four Scots believe Jack McConnell is doing a good job as First Minister, according to a new opinion poll for Scotland on Sunday.
The survey, conducted by YouGov, also reveals that nearly a third believe McConnell is performing badly, suggesting he is facing a major crisis of confidence among the electorate.
The survey finds that only 26% believe that McConnell, who has been First Minister since 2001, is doing a good job, against 31% who say he is doing badly. Even among Labour voters, fewer than half - 42% - believe he is doing well.
The findings represent a body-blow to McConnell's administration, and indicate that the public's faith in his performance is falling.
In a YouGov poll for the Daily Telegraph in April 2003, 29% said they were satisfied with McConnell. In a Scottish Opinion poll the previous month for the Daily Record, 33% said McConnell was effective. The new poll reveals McConnell has lost ground since.
The First Minister's ratings are also lower than those scored by his much-derided predecessor Henry McLeish, who was forced out of office after revelations over his office expenses.
In February 2001, McLeish's approval rating on the same question had sunk to 43%. The lowest rating achieved by the late Donald Dewar was 46% in 2000, not long after the furore over the repeal of Section 28.
Even when compared to his SNP rival Alex Salmond, McConnell fares badly. 34% of Scots believe the SNP leader, who has maintained a relatively low profile since being re-elected to the post last year, is doing a good job.
The poll also shows that the dissatisfaction with McConnell has spilled over into general disappointment with the performance of the Scottish Executive as a whole.
A mere 24% said the Labour/Lib Dem Executive was doing a good job, against 39% who said it was doing badly. A further 30% declared they were neutral.
Even among those who back the ruling Lib-Lab coalition, satisfaction levels are low. Among Labour voters, just 42% believe it is doing a good job. Among Liberal voters, the figure is even lower - 37%.
YouGov's poll also shows that Labour's iron grip on power in Scotland may be slipping, opening up the possibility of a wide-open race at May's expected election.
Asked how they would vote if the General Election were held tomorrow, 33% backed Labour - down from 37% in June 2004 when YouGov last polled the Scottish public.
With the SNP also dropping from 22% to 20%, there is now a three-horse race for second place at May's expected elections. The Liberals have risen from 16% to 20%, while the Tories have gone up from 17% to 19%.
The result, if replicated at the ballot box, would lead to Labour having just 37 seats in Scotland. The Liberals would come second with 13, the SNP six and the Conservatives three.
McConnell's dismal ratings in the poll are sure to lead to fresh questions marks about his position as First Minister.
Widely credited with steadying the ship following McLeish's turbulent tenure, the First Minister has since been unable to deflect mounting criticism that his administration has shied away from reform, and has failed to set out a coherent agenda.
A catalogue of PR disasters, especially his decision last year to turn down an invitation to attend the 60th anniversary of the D-Day landings in favour of a golfing dinner - a move he quickly reversed - have also led him into further trouble.
Today's poor poll results may also be due to a troubling past six weeks for the First Minister, which has seen him embroiled in a mounting controversy over his New Year family holiday with Newsnight presenter Kirsty Wark - which is now subject to a full parliamentary standards investigation.
McConnell's poor ratings may also be due to a series of largely unpopular policy plans he has backed in the last year.
His controversial blanket smoking ban in pubs is opposed by two-thirds of the population, who would prefer a less draconian approach to the issue.
Meanwhile, ministers have had to cope with a series of furious local protests across the country over plans to centralise hospital services.
Senior Labour figures are now expressing concern of a "bunker mentality" within the McConnell camp, fearing that the slew of criticism that has headed his way is beginning to take its toll. Allies of the First Minister were understood last week to have urged him to tone down his belligerent mood of recent weeks - especially during his performances at the weekly First Minister's Question Time, where they fear McConnell has been getting dragged into a slanging match with political opponents.
Meanwhile, several Labour MPs preparing to stand in May's expected election have expressed concern that the public's black mood towards McConnell's administration could hurt their chances at the polls.
Asked to comment on the poll findings last night, a spokesman for Scottish Labour said: "This demonstrates that there is a very real risk of a Tory revival in Scotland. They now have exactly the same share of the vote as the Nationalists and people should bear that in mind when it comes to the election. You don't have to vote Tory to get a Tory government."
A source close to the First Minister said: "I think that people genuinely believe that things are going in the right direction. They know that from their own personal experience, not that you would get that impression if you were listening to political opponents and some sections of the Scottish media which insist on talking Scotland down."
SNP leader Alex Salmond said: "What this indicates is that it is all to play for, and that Labour could be heading for a fall in Scotland. I am pleased with the personal ratings; it is a good indicator for a good election campaign."
A spokesman for the Scottish Conservatives said: "Over the last five years we have continued to improve and since devolution we have won 14 council by-elections - a better track record than any other party. The big test will come when the General Election is called."
The Liberal Democrat press spokesman was unavailable for comment.
JUST a quarter of Scots believe Jack McConnell is doing a good job, according to a new poll.
The survey also found the public believe the First Minister is not doing as well as his predecessors Henry McLeish and Donald Dewar.
Only 26 per cent thought Mr McConnell was doing a good job, with 31 per cent saying he was doing badly. Just 24 per cent said the Scottish Executive was doing well but 39 per cent disagreed.
A total of 24 per cent of voters think SNP leader Alex Salmond is doing a good job.
The YouGov poll found 33 per cent of Scots would vote Labour in the UK election. The SNP and the Liberal Democrats were on 20 per cent, the Tories 19 per cent.
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