Support for SNP plummets amid gender ‘disaster’

NICOLA Sturgeon’s independence plans have suffered another hammer blow as a poll showed support for her leadership, the SNP and Scottish separation has plunged.

A YouGov survey found backing for the SNP has slumped to its lowest level in five years as internal conflicts over transgender rights engulf the party.

Insiders believe gender swap reforms passed before Christmas have eroded trust in the party, as well as its hopes for independence.

The survey comes as House of Commons records show three Nationalist politicians – Lisa Cameron, Joanna Cherry and Angus MacNeil – have refused to back an SNP bid to ‘annul’ the UK Government block on the Bill.

The Gender Recognition

Reform (Scotland) Bill has come into focus in recent weeks after a transgender rapist was sent to a female prison only for the First Minister to announce a U-turn following a public outcry.

Ms Sturgeon then appeared to contradict her own policy, saying it was ‘likely’ the rapist, formerly known as Adam Graham, was ‘almost certainly’ masquerading as a female to be put in a women’s jail. Last night former SNP deputy leader Jim Sillars told a newspaper: ‘The Bill will be Sturgeon’s poll tax.’

He added: ‘She allied herself with zealots, ignored public anxieties, denied biology, produced a Bill that most can see is deeply flawed, rejected sensible amendments such as barring sex offenders from self-identification, and cannot hide from the people that predatory males, if the Bill becomes law, can manipulate it to invade women’s safe spaces. The recent rapist case will not be the only one to haunt her.’

Meanwhile, former SNP policy chief Alex Bell said the saga had been ‘a disaster for the First Minister and the SNP. It has damaged the nation and made Holyrood look stupid.’

The YouGov poll for the Sunday Times found Ms Sturgeon’s approval was down from plus 7 to minus 4 since October. Support for the SNP at the next Holyrood election fell from 50 per cent to 44 per cent in the constituency vote and 40 per cent to 36 per cent in the regional ballot. The poll of 1,088 voters in Scotland showed support for independence fell from 53 per cent to 47 per cent.

A Scottish Conservative spokesman said: ‘This poll suggests that Scots are tired of Nicola Sturgeon’s arrogant dismissal of their legitimate concerns over her flawed self-ID bill coupled with her relentless obsession with independence.’

SNP deputy leader Keith Brown said: ‘The SNP remains by far the most popular party in Scotland and Nicola Sturgeon the most popular leader.’

‘Holyrood has been made to look stupid’