Researchers at Ipsos conducted polling as Kate Forbes and John Swinney emerged as the early frontrunners to be Scotland’s next first minister.
New polling suggests John Swinney may be a more popular candidate for next SNP leader among the party’s supporters
However among SNP voters, 30% preferred Mr Swinney – who served as Nicola Sturgeon’s deputy first minister for more than eight years – while 21% opted for Ms Forbes. He announced on Monday he was stepping down from the job after just 13 months in charge, with his decision to terminate the powersharing deal between the SNP and the Scottish Greens at Holyrood having sparked his downfall.
But she added: “However, Forbes has a seven point lead over Swinney when it comes to who the wider public think would make the best first minister.”Ms Gray said: “The SNP will be looking to select a leader who can unite the party, secure co-operation from opposition parties so that laws and budgets can be passed and reverse the party’s slide in the polls.
Similarly 37% of people also thought Ms Forbes would be a good first minster, with 24% saying she would do a bad job. Voters were evenly split on whether Mr Yousaf’s decision to end the Bute House Agreement between the SNP and the Greens was the right thing to do – with 45% agreeing it was, while 45% thought it was the wrong decision.
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