POLL

TFN poll: rate the party leaders

This poll is almost 8 years old

28 April 2016
by Graham Martin

Which party leader or lead candidate do you think has performed the best during the election campaign?

Nicola Sturgeon (SNP): 1930

Kezia Dugdale (Labour): 436

Willie Rennie (Lib Dems): 156

Ruth Davidson (Conservative): 205

Patrick Harvie (Greens): 262

Cat Boyd (RISE): 172

David Coburn (UKIP): 13

As the countdown to polling day in the Scottish Parliament elections proceeds apace, the opinion polls all point to one headline result: a Scottish National Party majority.

That will be the result, barring an almost unimaginable set of events.

Because of that, much of the interest during the campaign has focussed on issues other than the result, such as the performance of smaller parties like the Greens and RISE and the battle for second place between Labour and the Tories.

Inevitably, as in every election, the performance of the leaders has come under scrutiny.

So that’s why we’re asking:

Which party leader or lead candidate do you think has performed the best during the election campaign?

Options

Voting in this poll has now closed

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Comments

0 0
Elijash Kasha
almost 8 years ago
Cat Boyd

0 0
Andrew MacMillan
almost 8 years ago
Kezia Dugdale is a genuine politician who listens to her party and to the public. She will deliver social justice and heal divisions caused by the SNP who have refused to accept the result of the recent referendum. The SNP seek to make the UK ungovernable through division and xenophobia.

0 0
Gerry McGarvey
almost 8 years ago
Kez represents a section of Scottish society not obsessed with the past, but prepared to make tough decisions towards investing in Scotland's future and making our country a better, fairer and more equitable place for everyone.

0 0
Angus Macleod
almost 8 years ago
Kezia Dugdale shows compassion and not the arrogance which is the hallmark of the other two female party leaders, Nicola Sturgeon and Ruth Davidson. Kezia has the progressive policies that Scotland needs to get out of the mess it's in.

0 0
gary cullen
almost 8 years ago
KEZA DUGDALE HAS NOT GOT A SINGLE PLAN OR IDEA THAT WASNT HANDED UP FROM LONDON ,AND TEHE 4 TRUPETS BELOW WITH THEIR COMMENTS IN FAVOUR OF HER HAD BEST WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE ELECTION SO THEY CAN USE THE KNOW WHENTO EXACTLY USE THE SHOVELS TO RID THEMSELVES OF THE CRAP AND LIES THEY SPEW AND BURY IT WITH LABOUR AND KIZA AT THE SAME TIME SCOTLAND RIDS OURSELVES OF LABOUR ONCE AND FOR ALL - NEVER AGAIN WILL A UNIONIST PARTY EVERY HAVE THE CHANCE TO TAKE CONTROL OVER THE PEOPLE OF SCOTLAND WHEN THE PEOPLE THEMSELVES VOTE THEM OUT ...GET USED TO IT THE POLITICS OF SCOTLAND HAVE CHANGED AND SO HAVE THE PEOPLE - IF THIS DEMOCRACY IS TO BE WHAT THE PEOPLE OF SCOTLAND CHOOSE LIVE WITH IT ,GET USED TO IT ,WE DONT NEED THE HELP OF LONDON WE DONT WANT OR NEED LABOUR OR THE TORY PARTY ,WHAT WE DO NEED IS WILLING PARTNERS IN OUR ENDEVOUR WHO LOOK TO SCOTLAND AND NOT ENGLAND FOR THEIR PAYCHECK AND ERMINE COAT ...

0 0
Quarmby
almost 8 years ago
The comments commending the hapless Dugdale by some of the few diehards left in what's left of UK Labour's Scottish branch are utterly laughable. You loons forget, we've all been *watching* and *listening* to this clueless ninny since she took over from the last clown, Murphy. #BothVotesSNP

0 0
Heather Walker
almost 8 years ago
Nicola is simply the best x

0 0
justy
almost 8 years ago
Kezia dosent know her arse from her elbow. Willie just there to make up the numbers. Ruth just wants Cameron to keep destroying Scotland and sink Scotland with the rest of the UK. Patrick has better ideas than the others i mentioned and Nicola is the One to look after Scotlands interests better than any party.

0 0
Mik Johnstone
almost 8 years ago
Nicola has out performed everyone during the election campaign Roofie, Wee Wullie and the Dug have neither had a clue of their own, nor an idea of what is best For Scotland, 3 cheeks of the same corrupt tory arse, I TRUST the SNP to do what is right for Scotland #BothVotesSNP Saor Alba my Friends

0 0
Sheila Forbes
almost 8 years ago
Nicola towers above them all and that's without the killer heels. Dugdale is an absolute joke, Davidson is little better.

0 0
Alan Stewart
almost 8 years ago
The results coming through in this poll tell their own story. Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP - the most trusted leader and party not just in comparison to any in the UK, but across EU. #BothVotesSNP on Thursday, folks!

0 0
Maureen
almost 8 years ago
Kezia keeps repeating herself and her ideas seem so wonderful but unattainable that I feel she is living in an ideal world which cannot be. It would be nice to have all she wants but how would she fund it? Ruth Davidson just irritates me beyond my tolerance levels and I think all she does is try to make others look stupid! Willie Rennie lives in pie in the sky land going round in circles and agreeing with whoever makes Bad comments about SNP. Patrick Harvie I believe is an honourable man with good intent and wants the best for Scotland. Nicola Sturgeon will definitely get my vote though as she talks more sense than all the others and has her feet firmly planted on Scottish soil. I trust her to do the best for Scotland and its people.

0 0
graeme mckiggan
almost 8 years ago
I trust Nicola.

0 0
Suzanne Bosworth
almost 8 years ago
Scottish Labour are just going to have to get used to the fact that they no longer run Scotland and that they have lost the trust of the majority of the electorate. They brought it on themselves and it's no use blaming others for their failures. The momentum now is with Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP and they're doing an excellent job with the restricted powers they have. What other party would have been able to withstand the blackmail and the bullying from Westminster and refuse to pay a single penny in return for the transfer of (some) powers? That takes experience, guts, and loyalty to Scotland.Let's hope we can start to get some collaborative discussions going in Holyrood this time, rather than the destructive and adversarial point scoring shipped up from Westminster by the unionist parties.

0 0
Judith Reid
almost 8 years ago
Nicola stands out simply because of her knowledge, calm eloquent approach and can give factual evidence in a heart beat. I also think PH is a favourable accilade for Scotland. The others are nothing less than assistants for London. Had these other 3 actually said anything constructive and forward thing instead of bashing NS and SNP They may have gained a glimmer of respect.. One up man ship doesn't and shouldn't play a part in politics.. They were like squabbling children with RD as the big bad bully!! KD putting on her sympathy voice and face, clearly being coached in empathy. And WR is an advertisement for the happy flappy crew.....

0 0
David Ross
almost 8 years ago
No contest it has to be Nicola Sturgeon - she is the most competent politician in Scotland.

0 0
alexander nicol
almost 8 years ago
there is only one Leader the others do not have the strength of personality nor the ability to get down and with the people apart from maybe Patrick Harvie , the others only have themselves in their within their area of tunnel vision , they seem to be of the opinion that democracy only belongs to them

0 0
David Alexander
almost 8 years ago
Nicola is street ahead of the others and the SNP have the only realistic programme of government.

0 0
Ian Hardie
almost 8 years ago
Kezi is a flip flopper, Don't believe this poll

0 0
Thomas Urquhart
almost 8 years ago
I am truly surprised that Patrick Green is behind Kezia and only slightly above Cat. I can see Cat's popularity growing with the young left voters, but Patrick is at this time a better performer. Kezia is way out of her depth poor lass and Ruth is a tory - 'nuff said. Nicola is by far the most accomplished performer that is a no brainer for me. Oh, and in answer to some of the comments about refusing to accept a referendum decision, I voted in a referendum to join and stay in Europe already - using the unionist reasoning about the Scottish one, why are we having another European one? Is it again one rule for us and another for the rUK?

0 0
jamie goss
almost 8 years ago
Like in ever other online poll... No option to put SOLIDARITY

0 0
Joe Kilmartin
almost 8 years ago
Nicola Sturgeon is the only one who's not went in shouting about independents or got wound up. She's been calm and honest through out the campaign

0 0
Shamur
almost 8 years ago
Nicola puts Scotland first and is WAY above all others. You only need to look at the achievements of the SNP over the last 10 years to see the proof. Think what we could do if Scotland had ALL the purse strings and made our own decisions on everything. Why would a country want another country to make these decisions for us and tell us what we can and can't do? I trust Nic more than any English run party 100%. Time to rid ourselves from the chains. Roll on Indy2. Onwards and upwards. No Trident, no House of Lords etc.

0 0
Ian Murray
almost 8 years ago
As a tax payer and a Scottish person, I don't think any one person either from Red or Blue Tories have any right in telling people of Scotland that if they want an other referendum then they can't. That isn't what you call a democracy and if you believe a word that comes from Dugdale or Davidsons mouth then you really are clueless to what is happening in the real world and Scotland. If the SNP are so bad then why does the majority of Scotland vote for them? Think Unionists should think about immigrating south of the boarded or to some where that they will be happy, As Scotland is sick of being apart of this corrupt union and lied to left right and center by these unionist parties that have no real vision in how to move towards a better future but hang on to the words SNP bad!! Move on already.... It is unionists that constantly talk about a 2nd referendum?! Think people are just waking up to how stupid they really are and want to blame some one else for it... so they blame the majority of Scotland that vote SNP for a better Scotland, Any true Scottish person would never let a unionist (English) Party strip and steal and better yet lie and torture the vulnerable people of Scotland.Shame on these so called unionists that claim to be Scottish, Should hang your head in shame or better yet move South of the boarder if that is the way of living you want.... fund the rich and well yeah fund the rich even more!!

0 0
Pamela Hamilton
almost 8 years ago
I would like to add, I am only commenting on what I witnessed Kezia just constantly repeats herself no matter where she is interviewed constantly talking about the referendum, as do Ruth and Willy why? because they are all running scared as I believe another referendum is inevitable more so because of the EU and why not have another what are people scared of the Tories have ruined Scotland I didn't vote for a Tory government but we always get them or Liebor. Ruth was found out about the Clyde ship building etc then she turned nasty shouting over Nicola very disturbing to watch as a viewer. Scottish people with not be duped we were duped in the referendum,not this time "better together" I think not. Willy is another talks nonsense can't watch him either. Nicola is shoulders above the rest in my life time she is the only one I feel who fights for Scotland and will take OUR country forward for a more fairer balanced Country.

0 0
John Armstrong
almost 8 years ago
2 Million Scots voted for continuation of the Union - but 1.6 Million voted for independence. The gap isn't that wide. Where is the respect for the wishes of the 1.6 Million? Democracy works when the electorate can make their views known. Just because the referendum result was No doesn't mean the issue has gone away. 1.6 Million voices (and rising) is testament to that. Ruthless, Kezia and wee Willie winkie need to get off their 'once in a generation, possibly once in a lifetime' soap box. I don't hear them regurgitating the empty promises made by umpteen Unionist leaders when they seek to justify no future referendum. That unwavering stance against any threat from an independent Scotland is very telling. Scotland is still accused of being subsidised by England and we are too much in debt to hack it on our own. Just more lies and deception, seen so often in the referendum campaign. We WILL have another referendum if the people of Scotland decide that's what they want. No corrupt Tory (regardless if hue) has the power to deny that basic democratic right. Nicola all the way for me, someone who knows her stuff and her priorities are for Scotland and EVERYONE who lives here. The prospect of another referendum is a nightmare for Westminster. They all know they played the deception card far too much last time. All the lies, scaremongering and smears have all been debunked since the result. They can't play that card again, so the next referendum is in the bag - hence the constant carping about the next referendum. All they had to do was honour their vows. They didn't and now they know its game over.

0 0
Raymond Reid
almost 8 years ago
The only person that talks Scotland and it's people up is Nicola ,and to a certain extent Patrick ,the others all they want to do is tell you how much they will penalise you for wanting a better life for the people of Scotland under an SNP government,they have no progressive policies at all,only the SNP can see a better future within an independent Scotland.

0 0
Raymond Reid
almost 8 years ago
Looking at the comments of mr.Mcmillan and Mr Mcgarvey seems to me that they still believe in dinosaurs and don't believe in an independent Scotland looking after the interests of the country and the people without the interference from Westminster.

0 0
David Downie
almost 8 years ago
Nicola miles ahead, Dugdale way out her depth trying to hold together the Scottish branch full of bickering and constant u turns, Davidson reading from the westminster tory script and happy to be fighting for 2nd place ! Rennie not a clue and an irrelevance, Cat Boyd never heard a word from her so... and Patrick Harvie not bad came 2nd in my opinion and one to look out for after Indy.

0 0
david murdoch
almost 8 years ago
Only the stupid, the delusional or the self interested would vote for any of the ermine collar brigade. SNP 1 and 2

0 0
Bill Beattie
almost 8 years ago
Nicola wins hands down, with Patrick Harvie the next best performer. Kezia comes across as caring and decent, but too much flip flopping on policy, does not make her a credible FM. Ruth, publically jovial, quirky etc - but underneath it all downright nasty. Willie.....yawn

0 0
Jim Oliphant
almost 8 years ago
Nicola Sturgeon is the only logical leader for the position of First Minister in Scotland. She is the most popular and respected politician in all of the UK and her SNP Scottish led Government is the most trusted Government in the whole of the European Union.

0 0
Ben
almost 8 years ago
I am truly horrified a comment that is essentially racist (Ian Murray) has been left up. What the hell has being English got to do with this? You should hang your head in shame for those comments. its people like you bringing comments like this to the stage that make the world a little more unpleasant

0 0
Mike
almost 8 years ago
Those who are turning this into an SNP are amazing and the majority of people voted for them/want independence, they have the most seats etc. need to calm down and look at the numbers:45% of those who voted in the independence referendum were in favour of it. Or put it another way, 62% of the electorate didn't vote for independence.In the last Scottish parliament election, the SNP won 72% of the seats. They got 45.4% of the constituency votes and 4f4% of the list votes of the 50.6% of the electorate who voted. Can you see how many people voted for the SNP? Yes, the minority - by a substantially embarrassing number.On the other hand, of the three main opposition parties (who are not in favour of independence) their combined share of the vote was 53.5% constituency and 43.9% list vote.The Scottish parliament does not reflect the will of the Scottish people and if Nicola Sturgeon actually had any courage to submit to the will of the Scottish people she would at least acknowledge the true position of her party.However, I doubt the SNP will let the facts get in the way of their solitary ambition of independence.

0 0
Ian Gray
almost 8 years ago
Nicola Sturgeon has a vision to take Scotland forward. Ruth Davidson has a brass neck and is trying to re-write history. Patrick Harvie is intelligent and principled. The other two are irrelevant

Commenting is now closed on this post

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TFN poll: rate the party leaders

Which party leader or lead candidate do you think has performed the best during the election campaign?

Comments