Poll: Andy Burnham now most popular political leader in Scotland
The Prime Minister enjoys a positive net favourability rating, but this has yet to translate into increased support for Labour
Andy Burnham has quickly become the most popular major political leader in Scotland, a new poll has found, but his arrival in Downing Street has yet to translate into increased support for Labour north of the Border.
Polling released on Thursday by Edinburgh-based research agency Diffley Partnership, conducted using a Survation online panel, found the Prime Minister is the only major political figure with a positive net favourability rating among Scottish voters.
However, despite this, Scottish Labour remains some distance behind the SNP in voting intention, with little evidence Labour's improved polling elsewhere in Britain has been replicated in Scotland.
The survey also suggests there is limited public engagement with the ongoing Scottish Labour leadership contest. Almost half of voters agreed that who leads the party makes little difference to Scotland.
Mark Diffley, founder and director of Diffley Partnership, said: "Andy Burnham has made a good early impression on Scottish voters. He is the only political leader tested in this survey to record a positive favourability rating and is viewed as the best option for Prime Minister by a clear plurality of voters.
"However, the polling also suggests that Burnham's personal popularity has not yet translated into additional support for Scottish Labour.
“While Labour has seen some encouraging signs elsewhere in Britain, the party's position in Scotland appears largely unchanged, with the SNP continuing to hold a substantial lead.
"The findings also point to a significant challenge for whoever becomes the next Scottish Labour leader. Public awareness of the contest remains low, most voters say they have heard little about it, and many are unconvinced that the outcome will have a major impact on Scottish politics.
"While Andy Burnham appears to have succeeded in improving Labour's image, there is little evidence so far of a corresponding 'Burnham bounce' in Scotland. Turning personal popularity into votes, and rebuilding Labour's competitiveness in Scottish politics, remains a significant challenge.”
Some 37 per cent of Scots viewed Mr Burnham favourably, compared with 28 per cent who viewed him unfavourably, giving the Prime Minister a net score of +9.
By comparison, First Minister John Swinney recorded a net score of -6, while Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay and Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton both recorded net ratings of -8. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage recorded a net favourability score of -31 among Scots.
Asked who would make the best Prime Minister, 45 per cent selected Mr Burnham, significantly ahead of both Mr Farage and Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who each attracted support from 16 per cent of voters.
Meanwhile, just 4 per cent of voters said they had heard "a great deal" about the ongoing Scottish Labour leadership contest, while 25 per cent say they had heard "a fair amount". Half (50 per cent) said they had heard "not very much", while 22 per cent said they had heard nothing at all.
When asked who would make the best Scottish Labour leader, a majority (55 per cent) said they did not know.
Almost half (48 per cent) agreed that who leads Scottish Labour makes little difference to Scotland, while only 29 per cent agreed the next leader could realistically become First Minister.
Similarly, more voters disagreed (33 per cent) than agreed (29 per cent) that the outcome of the leadership contest will make a significant difference to Scottish politics.
Compared to an April poll by Survation, the party remained on 19 per cent, with the SNP moving from 31 per cent to 34 per cent.
Reform shed three points, dropping from 21 per cent to 18 per cent.
Results are based on a survey of 2,036 respondents conducted between August 13 and 24.
Comments
Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article.