Anas Sarwar has overtaken Humza Yousaf to be the public’s preferred choice for first minister, according to a poll.
It is the first time that the Scottish Labour leader has moved ahead of the SNP incumbent, although waves of optimism for Sarwar may be tempered by the fact that both rivals lag behind “don’t know”.
The research by Redfield & Wilton Strategies - published in The Times today - also put the two parties neck and neck in general election voting intentions, which analysis predicted would leave Labour with the most Scottish MPs.
Ratings for both Sarwar and Yousaf dropped on the question of who would be the best first minister, the Labour leader by one point to 32% and the SNP leader by two points to 31%. Thirty-seven per cent of respondents said they did not know.
When Yousaf and Douglas Ross, the Scottish Conservative leader, were put head to head, 36% said they would prefer the current first minister, down three points, while Ross increased his rating by two points to 30%.
Here is what else is happening in politics today...
Scottish Parliament:
Today’s business includes:
- General Questions
- First Minister’s Questions
- Members’ Business: S6M-12162 Young Carers Action Day 2024 (in the name of Karen Adam)
- Portfolio Questions: Social Justice
- Social Justice and Social Security Committee Debate: Addressing Child Poverty Through Parental Employment
- Legislative Consent Motion: Investigatory Powers (Amendment) Bill – UK Legislation
- Decision Time
- The following committees are meeting this morning:
- Public Audit Committee
- Social Justice and Social Security Committee
- Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee
- Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee
UK Parliament:
Today’s business includes:
- Oral Questions: Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (including Topical Questions)
- Estimates Day: Supplementary Estimate 2023-24: Home Office (Subject for debate: the spending of the Home Office on asylum and migration)
- Oral Questions (Lords): Support to help protect telecommunications cables in the Red Sea
- Debate (Lords): The importance of strengthening and safeguarding the union of the UK
- Short debate (Lords): Regulation of news broadcasting companies
- Ninth Delegated Legislation Committee – Debate on the draft Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (Consequential, Supplementary and Incidental Provisions) Regulations 2024
- Tenth Delegated Legislation Committee – Debate on the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2024
Aberdeenshire Council:
Today’s business includes:
- Infrastructure Services Committee
Aberdeen City Council:
Today’s business includes:
- Planning Development Management Committee