Nicola Sturgeon named best Scottish politician since the 1990s in new poll

Nicola Sturgeon is the best Scottish politician of the devolution era, according to a new survey.

Findings released today show Scots think the former first minister is the best politician the country has produced in the past 30 years.

The period spans the history of the modern Scottish Parliament and covers indyref, Brexit, the pandemic, and more.

Now on the backbenches, Sturgeon took 20 per cent of the popular vote – more than twice that of her nearest rivals in the poll.

Her predecessor Alex Salmond, ‘father of devolution’ Donald Dewar and ex-PM Gordon Brown finished in joint second place on eight per cent each.

But it’s bad news for Sturgeon’s former deputy and current first minister John Swinney, who finished with only two per cent of the vote.

The polling was carried out by Ipsos as it marks 30 years of having a permanent presence in Scotland.

The firm works out of Edinburgh and questioned more than 1,000 people aged 16 and over last month, asking them: “Who do you see as the best Scottish politician from the past 30 years?”

With seven per cent, peer Ruth Davidson was the only Tory to make it into the top 10, while former prime minister Tony Blair and late Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy both scored three per cent of the vote.

Former chancellor Alastair Darling and ex-foreign secretary Robin Cook polled at one per cent.

Meanwhile, the public is less positive about the life chances for those born in Scotland in 2025 compared with those born in 1995. More than four in 10 (42 per cent) think today’s infants will have worse lives than those born in 1995, with only 29 per cent taking the opposing view.

And three quarters of those questioned said it is easier for people to be lesbian, gay bisexual or transgender in Scotland today, compared with 1995, while nine per cent think it is about the same and four per cent contend that it is harder.

Emily Gray, managing director of Ipsos Scotland, commented: “Nicola Sturgeon remains the most high-profile figure in Scottish politics, as Scotland’s longest serving and first female first minister. Her popularity ratings were often the envy of other Scottish political leaders during her time in office, and even in the wake of recent travails, including the lengthy investigation into SNP finances, she is the Scottish public’s top pick for best Scottish politician of the last 30 years.”

Ipsos also asked Scots for their best screen actor of the past 30 years. Paisley’s David Tennant finished top on 19 per cent, followed by Edinburgh icon Sean Connery at 16 per cent and Crieff star Ewan McGregor on nine per cent.

James McAvoy and Robert Carlyle achieved join fourth at six per cent, with Robbie Coltrane, Brian Cox and Gerard Butler ending on five per cent each, and Martin Compston and Peter Capaldi securing three per cent.

No female actors made the top 10.