Fact – the SNP IS the people’s party

Kevin McKenna’s report this morning in the Herald is, to be fair, in the ‘opinion’ category as it should be because it wouldn’t survive a collision with the evidence.

From YouGov on 8 August 2023:

chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://docs.cdn.yougov.com/6i430fpvw4/Internal_Scotland_VI_230808_W_BPC.pdf

Even at this difficult time for the SNP, McKenna’s view is way out.

For Westminster, Holyrood Constituency and Holyrood Regional votes, the SNP has a bigger share of the C2DE (manual workers and the unemployed) than Labour and almost three times that of the Cons. Indeed for the Holyrood ‘headline’ vote the SNP is far ahead of Labour, 42 to 29.

Labour, indeed, seems to be more attractive to the ABC1 (professional, managerial, skilled) group than it is to McKenna’s ‘working class.’ Starmerism is ‘working.’

On age, the SNP is clearly the party of the younger voter.

On gender, there’s a bit of a bias toward women’s support for both SNP and Labour.

McKenna has tried this one before in better days for the SNP, which will return as Starmer is fully exposed.

In August 2020:

I haven’t read any of the above in Herald today. I don’t need to.

I can guess. It’s about Nicola trying to stop Old Firm fans from singing offensive songs and some other supposed ‘totalitarian’ behaviour from a man who has no apparent problems with Papal bulls.

The detail doesn’t really matter because the basic premise in the headline is plain daft.

In the most recent full poll from YouGov, it’s clear that SNP support is and remains significantly (around 15%) stronger among the working classes (C2DE) than among the middle and upper classes (ABC1):

https://docs.cdn.yougov.com/l0arqcm4ea/TimesResults_200810_ScotlandV2_W.pdf

Why might that be? It’s kind of easy.

The sharp contrast between the SNP and UK Tory governments on health, taxation, welfare and housing, on top of falling crime levels and now, far better management of a pandemic, appeals strongly to those who have less and are who less secure. Remember, many of the working-classes are older reliable voters who care little for McKenna’s concerns.

Most of the working classes are not interested in football, far less the Old Firm. Judging by her massive popularity most of the population admire a leader who is clear, consistent, unpretentious and demonstrably on their side.

The SNP clearly does have a problem with the more affluent in our society who see and resent the more favourable tax allowances in England. Can that be changed? Does it matter that much?

9 thoughts on “Fact – the SNP IS the people’s party

  1. I am fed up saying this. McKenna is a Fanny. He is the sort of Labour “intellectual” whose natural home is the corporate hospitality seats at Celtic Park. He is convinced Scotland would be great, if they let him and his mates run it.

    Liked by 3 people

  2. McKenna thinks ”Starmarism is working ! ”
    Really ?
    So he thinks that breaking every pledge /promise he has made since becoming leader is what is attracting voters ; that continuing the obscene Two Child Benefit Cap will persuade the poorest families that he is on their side ; that refusing to introduce a Wealth Tax for those who have been serial winners -for ever – will show how balanced his tax policy will be and undecided voters will swarm to his cause ….
    What planet is McKenna living on ?

    Liked by 1 person

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