Who's got what it takes?

WE'VE GOT WHAT IT TAKES - POLL CONFIRMS VOTER’S
TRUST IN SNP

NECK & NECK RACE FOR WESTMINSTER

GRAY’S RATINGS WORSE THAN WENDY’S

A new poll by YouGov – and commissioned by the
SNP – has confirmed the voters trust in the SNP
Government is increasing for all elections as
we approach the second anniversary of the SNP’s
historic victory in the 2007 Scottish
Parliamentary elections.

The poll of 1020 people on 21 and 22nd April
2009 shows:

* The SNP increasing its vote in the constituency
and regional votes for the Scottish Parliament

* The SNP vote for Westminster elections increasing
by 12%, bringing the party neck and neck with Labour

* Twice as many people trust the SNP Scottish
Government to focus on their needs and interests as
trust the UK Labour Government

* Alex Salmond’s ratings dwarfing other party leaders
with Iain Gray’s ratings figures not only lower than
Annabel Goldie’s but historically lower than any other
Scottish Labour leader.

* Voters of all parties see the SNP holding the balance
of power in Westminster as a "good thing" for Scotland

Commenting on the poll figures Angus Robertson MP,
SNP Business Convenor and Westminster leader, said:

“This is a sensational poll for the SNP and for Scotland.
As we approach the mid term of the Parliament, they are
the SNP's strongest ratings since last autumn.

“The poll shows that voters across Scotland know that we
have what it takes to focus on their needs and interests
during tough times.

“As the SNP approaches the second anniversary of our
historic election victory, the poll demonstrates a tale
of two governments.

“The SNP’s actions in our first two years in Government
have delivered major improvements in people's lives,
with the council tax frozen, scrapping of small business
rates, the phased abolition of prescription charges, and
investment in jobs and skills under our six-point plan to
support Scotland through the recession.

"By contrast, Labour's £500 million raid on Scottish spending
has set the terms of politics in Scotland, and will galvanise
SNP support further in the European and Westminster elections
to come.

"Labour have let people down with their mismanagement of
the economy and attacks of Scotland's public services.

“Double the number of people trust the SNP Government
over the UK Labour government to be on their side.
The SNP’s support for jobs, skills, training and investment
is clearly recognised by voters as doing everything possible
within our powers to promote recovery from Labour’s
recession and build a strong, sustainable economy and society.”

Commenting on the leadership and First Minister ratings which
confirm Alex Salmond’s support and show the Labour leader with
the worst figures ever,

Mr Robertson said:

“This result shows that people believe Alex Salmond is an
excellent First Minister for all of Scotland - he is more
popular among Labour voters than Iain Gray, and more popular
among Lib Dem voters that Tavish Scott!

“The poll is a personal disaster for Iain Gray – as
Labour’s Scottish leader he is the invisible man, and
totally overshadowed by Jim Murphy and Steven Purcell.

“No Labour leader has ever had such low support from
the Scottish public. When even fewer people want to see
Iain Gray as First Minister than wanted Wendy Alexander,
this is a crisis for his leadership."

Commenting on the voting intentions for Westminster and
the support for the SNP to hold the balance of power at
Westminster Stewart Hosie MP, Convenor of the SNP’s
Westminster Campaign added;

“These dramatic results show voters know the SNP has got
what it takes to provide them with a strong voice at Westminster.

“Labour have lost the trust of the Scottish public.

“With a 12% increase from the 2005 election the SNP is
winning the trust of the Scottish electorate at all levels
whilst Labour is continuing to lose public support and the
LibDems are disappearing from the electoral map.

“There is clear evidence from this poll that voters of
all parties support the SNP holding the balance of power
at Westminster, no matter who is in number 10.

“The SNP in Westminster have got what it takes to see
Scotland’s interests protected, not sacrificed as they
have been under successive Labour and Tory governments and
this poll shows that the Scottish public recognise
our vital role in protecting and promoting their interests."

ENDS

Notes:

Poll details are as follows:

Holyrood Constituency Vote

Party - Poll (Change from last poll) -
[Change from 2007 election]

SNP - 37% (+2%) [+4%]
Labour - 30% (-4%) [-2%]
Tory - 15% (1%) [-2%]
LibDem - 13% (1%) [-3%]
Other - 5% (1%) [3%]

Holyrood Regional Vote

Party - Poll (Change from last poll) -
[Change from 2007 election]

SNP - 37% (+7%) - [+6%]
Labour - 28% (-4%) - [-1%]
Tory - 15% (0%) - [1%]
LibDem - 13% (2%) - [2%]
Other - 7% (-5%) - [-8%]

Westminster voting intentions:

SNP - 30%
Lab - 32%
Tory - 21%
LibDem - 13%
Other - 5%

* Which ONE, if any, of the following Scottish
Political leaders do you think would make the best
First Minister?

Alex Salmond - 36%
Annabelle Goldie - 10%
Iain Gray - 7%
Tavish Scott - 4%
Patrick Harvie - 1%

7% for Iain Gray is the worst figure recorded for a
Labour leader in Scotland since the 2007 election and
probably since polling began.

Wendy Alexander's lowest rating was 9%.

Previous polls on party leader ratings had the following
ratings for Labour leaders:

Apr-09 - 7% - Iain Gray
Mar-09 - 17% - Iain Gray
Jan-09 - 15% - Iain Gray
Oct-08 - 13% - Iain Gray
Sep-08 - 15% - Combined Labour*
Apr-08 - 11% - Wendy Alexander
Nov-07 - 10% - Wendy Alexander
Oct-07 - 9% - Wendy Alexander

* Figures were Iain Gray 3%, Cathy Jamieson 7%,
and Andy Kerr 5%.


* Thinking about the performance of the UK Labour
Government and the Scottish SNP Government over
the past year…

- Which do you think cares MOST about the needs and
interests of you and your family?

Scottish Government - 44%
UK Government - 22%
Neither - 26%
Don’t know - 7%

- On balance, do you think the Labour Party will win
or lose the next UK General Election?

Win - 23%
Lose - 61%
Don’t know - 17%

* It is possible that at the next British general election,
neither the Labour or Conservative Party will win an outright
majority and that other parties, including the Scottish National
Party, could hold the balance of power.

- Do you think this is…?

A good thing for Scotland - 41%
A bad thing for Scotland - 19%
Makes no difference either way - 28%
Don’t know - 13%