Almost two-thirds of Scots dissatisfied with Starmer’s performance, poll finds

Anas Sarwar has conceded the UK Labour Government has had “teething problems” as a poll showed almost two-thirds of Scots are dissatisfied with the Prime Minister’s performance.

As Sir Keir Starmer approaches the first anniversary of being voted into 10 Downing Street, research by Ipsos found 64% of people in Scotland are unhappy with his performance as Prime Minister.

The research, carried out for STV News, gives the UK Labour leader a net satisfaction rating of minus 42, with just over a fifth (22%) of those polled satisfied with his performance running the country.

Mr Sarwar said Sir Keir and his Government has had “work to do to try to clean up that mess left by the Tories”, adding it was “never going to be an easy job”.

The Scottish Labour leader, who was a dentist before becoming a politician, accepted there had been “teething problems in the early days of the Labour Government”.

Speaking on a visit in Glasgow, Mr Sarwar told journalists the Prime Minister has “accepted they have made mistakes, the winter fuel payment being one example”.

The Scottish Labour leader also said his party had “not been effective enough in telling its positive story about what it has done to try to clear up the mess left by the Tories”.

He said: “We have to persuade people we are making the difficult decisions in order to improve outcomes for people here in Scotland and across the UK.”

The poll gave UK Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch a net satisfaction rating of minus 43, with 13% of people satisfied with how she is doing as leader of the Opposition at Westminster, compared to 56% who are dissatisfied.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is on minus 30, with 24% of people satisfied with his performance, compared to 54% who are dissatisfied.

SNP leader and Scottish First Minister John Swinney did better, with a net satisfaction rating of minus 17.

Almost half (49%) of those surveyed are dissatisfied with his performance as First Minister and almost a third (32%) are happy with it.

The same study put the SNP in the lead ahead of next year’s Holyrood election, with 34% of voters saying they plan to vote for Mr Swinney’s party.

Reform UK – which currently has no MSPs at Holyrood – could be poised to come third, with 14% of voters saying they could back Mr Farage’s party in May.

Labour is in second place in the poll, with 23% support.

Emily Gray, managing director of Ipsos in Scotland, told STV: “These new results show how dramatically Scotland’s political landscape has shifted compared with a year ago.

“While neither Nigel Farage nor Keir Starmer are popular amongst the Scottish public at present, Starmer’s ratings have now fallen behind Farage’s, far from the situation the Prime Minister would want as he marks his first anniversary in Downing Street this week.”

SNP depute leader Keith Brown said: “This opinion poll reflects what many across the country already feel – that the Labour Government is treating Scotland as an afterthought, and only the SNP can be trusted to stand up for Scotland.”

The poll also shows 52% would vote for independence if there was a second referendum, and Mr Brown added: “With the UK Labour Government letting Scotland down, more and more people are coming to the conclusion that Westminster will never work for Scotland and we should become an independent country.

“We are taking nothing for granted and are focused on delivering for the people of Scotland and providing hope for a better future with independence.”