Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf (Image: Getty)
Humza Yousaf has been dealt another massive blow after a new poll suggested fewer than one in six people see independence as a priority - and predicted the SNP was on course for a general election drubbing, shedding most of its MPs.
And pro-union campaigners have said the research proves that the party is “completely out of touch” with the people of Scotland.
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The party is neck and neck-and-neck with Labour just months before a nationwide poll, according to the survey, published by Redfield and Wilton.
First Minister Mr Humza may take some comfort from the fact that his approval rating increased by one point - but it still remains a net negative at -16 percent, while 43 percent of respondents said the Scottish Government was incompetent, compared to 28 percent who believed it was competent.
On the question of independence, support remained stagnant, with 48 percent of decided voters favouring separation and 52 percent saying they would vote against - but significantly, just 16 percent of the 1,000 Scottish adults interviewed identified the issue as a priority.
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Nicola Sturgeon's SNP won 28 seat in Scotland in 2019 (Image: Getty)
SNP support is actually up by one point from the previous poll last month, on 34 percent, while Labour remained on the same level.
However, given the SNP, then led by Nicola Sturgeon, took 45 percent of the vote in 2019, and consequently 48 seats, an 11 percent drop would result if a massive reduction in the number of seats the party would have at Westminster.
The Tories dropped two points to 16 percent, while Reform UK remained on four, the Scottish Greens increased by two points to 14 percent and the Alba Party stayed on one percent.
According to electoralcalculas.com, such a result would result in Labour picking up a whopping 26 seats, leapfrogging the SNP to become the largest single party with 27. By contrast, the SNP would shed 20 seats and be reduced to just eight MPs in the House of Commons.
The gap between the SNP and Labour in Holyrood voting intention also expanded in the poll, with Humza Yousaf's party remaining on 35 percent in the constituency vote, while the Anas Sarwar-led group dropped two points to 31 percent.
Fewer than one in six see independence as a priority, the poll suggests (Image: Redfield and Wilton)
Labour remained ahead in the regional vote, staying on 29 percent, while the SNP gained one point, finishing on 28 percent.
Asked who would be the best prime minister, 24 percent of respondents said Rishi Sunak - down two points - while Sir Keir Starmer saw his rating drop three points to 44 percent with 32 percent saying they did not know.
In a similar question about the position of Scottish First Minister, Anas Sarwar - who dropped one point to 32 percent - creeped ahead of Mr Yousaf, who lost two points, with 31 percent saying he would be the best choice. A total of 37 percent of respondents said they did not know.
Meanwhile, 36 percent said they would support Humza Yousaf over Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross - a drop of three percent - while the Moray MP's rating increased by two points to 30 percent preferring him to lead Scotland.
Pamela Nash, chief executive of Scotland in Union, said: “The people of Scotland want this General Election campaign to be about the issues which really matter to them.
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Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar (Image: Getty)
“By focusing on the constitution, the SNP is completely out of touch with most people in Scotland – and increasingly out of touch even with its own voters.”
She added: “Rather than continuing to spend public money on anti-UK propaganda, the Scottish Government must focus on our economy, our NHS, and housing.”
Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: ”Scots want change and that they are turning to Scottish Labour to deliver it.
"With Anas Sarwar now leading Humza Yousaf as the people's preferred choice for First Minister, it is clear that Scotland now wants change from both of its failing governments.
"From a New Deal for Working People to GB energy and thousands of clean energy jobs in Scotland, only Scottish Labour is offering change to the people of Scotland. Only Scottish Labour can replace both the Tories and the SNP."
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SNP MP Tommy Sheppard said: "With the Tories and Keir Starmer's Labour Party hell bent on abandoning Scotland's interests at every turn, it has never been clearer that only SNP MPs will make Scotland's voice heard at Westminster.
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"At a time when we are in desperate need of real change, Scotland is being shafted by a future shaped by a broken Brexit economy and austerity obsessed government - whether it be led by Sunak or Starmer. People deserve better.
"Westminster isn't working for Scotland and only a vote for the SNP is vote to stand up for Scotland, defend our public services, and offer people the choice of a better future with independence."
A Scottish Conservative spokesperson said: "Voters know in swathes of seats across Scotland it is only the Scottish Conservatives who can beat Humza Yousaf's SNP and ensure the focus switches from their independence obsession to Scots' real priorities, such as NHS waiting times, growing our economy and restoring standards in our schools."
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