SNP consolidate lead over Labour

Nicola Sturgeon

Monday, 11, Aug 2008 12:00

The SNP's lead over Labour shows signs of hardening today as a YouGov survey suggests Alex Salmond and his party are three times more popular than Gordon Brown and Labour.

When asked to compare the performance of the UK government with that of Scotland's, 52 per cent of people said the SNP government "cares more about the needs and interests" of their families. Only 16 per cent said Labour did.

A large minority of Labour supporters conceded the SNP was governing well, with 33 per cent of Labour respondents saying the Scottish government cared more. Only one per cent of SNP supporters said the UK government cared more.

Asked who was performing better, Mr Brown as prime minister or Mr Salmond as first minister, 52 per cent opted for Mr Salmond and 16 per cent for Mr Brown.

Deputy first minister Nicola Sturgeon said the survey reflected the SNP's performance in government: "The SNP government have taken decisive action to help families and business with rising costs – freezing the council tax, cutting business rates, starting the phased abolition of prescription charges, and restoring free education – while Gordon Brown's dithering administration sit on their hands, and send out mixed messages on what they might or might not be doing."