Starmer less popular than Trump in Scotland, poll suggests

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is more unpopular in Scotland than Donald Trump, a new poll has suggested.

Sir Keir has seen his popularity fall in recent months as he struggles with a number of domestic issues.

On Thursday, an Ipsos Scotland poll of 1,050 Scots, which took place between September 12 and 22, found the Prime Minister’s net favourability rating dropped to minus 47%, a 7.5-point fall since February.

The US president’s rating sat at minus 46%.

First Minister John Swinney was again the most popular leader in Scotland, though he still had a negative approval rating of minus 10%.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar’s approval dropped to the lowest on record for an Ipsos poll, sitting at minus 26%.

Speaking to journalists in Holyrood on Thursday, Mr Sarwar said: “I’m not going to get into the personality side of that, we’ve got to get on with the hard work of delivering for people in Scotland and across the UK.”

Mr Sarwar’s deputy leader Dame Jackie Baillie said in a statement: “The SNP has failed Scotland and caused chaos in our NHS, our schools, our justice system and our transport network.

“The next election is a chance to end the managed decline of the SNP and build a better future, but only Scottish Labour can do that.

“Scottish Labour will continue to work hard to earn voters’ trust and demonstrate that we can deliver the new direction Scotland so badly needs.”

An SNP spokesman said: “While Labour, the Tories, and Reform drag Scotland down with chaos, crisis, and cuts, John Swinney is delivering real leadership, and this poll shows that the public can see it – he’s the most popular leader in the country, and under his leadership, the SNP is back on top in the polls.

“People are clearly not buying what Labour is selling, and they’re certainly not falling for Nigel Farage’s toxic brand of politics – and it’s no wonder because people can see that all the Westminster parties are offering is division, hate and broken promises.

“People across Scotland know who will actually stand up for them. It’s not Labour, and it’s certainly not Nigel Farage. The change Scotland needs is a fresh start with independence, and only the SNP will deliver that.”