Poll Dancing for SNP As Opposition Gets Minced for

.. buggering about with public cash for a cheap political stunt.

I have to say that I had me doots about the unionist press and bloggers contentions that the honeymoon between the SNP and Scotland had indeed ended.
There was always the distinctive tang of "the wish being father to the thought" about the idea, and it seems that, as a result of the Sunday Times YouGov poll today, this has been borne out.

Now, we all know that one poll does not a victory make, but, this one is pretty emphatic and pointed.

To paraphrase Iain Gray at FMQs this week; - "as Einstein never said - if you want to get public support, it's a pretty dumb idea to tear down a budget which is aimed at giving people jobs in the middle of a recession."

So this poll, held after the budget debate, gives the opposition parties who opposed the budget a very serious kick in the essentials.
And not just the parties. Iain Gray's approval rating is now at a rapidly decomposing -17.
Tavish, (and this plainly explains his supine behaviour to the government recently), languishes at a fully submerged -19.
Patrick Harvie enhances his green credentials by being buried in peat at -25.

Alex Salmond, no surprise here, enjoys an approval rating of +11.

Nae baud, but it gets even more interesting when we look at who might make the best FM.

Again, Bad Times for Iain (15% support), Tavvy (5%), and even poor Annabel (11%).
Patrick? Um.... not quoted, it would appear.

Do I have to say it?

Oh, all right then. 35% of those polled think Salmond's the boy for the job, and at 33% he's even stevens with big Broon for economic reliability.

So? I hear you ask.
Well, the point here is that Salmonds rating on the economy has jumped by 10% since the last poll, and Brown's has dropped by 9%. An interesting trend.

Now, I suppose that our Unionist chums will be jumping up and down over a drop to 29% from 31% in pro independence voting intentions.
My advice to them is that they should enjoy the exercise, but not imagine that this reflects a victory for their parties, whose inability to provide constructive and community minded opposition has damaged them badly.

The independence vote in the polls has always fluctuated somewhat, and a swing of 2% is hardly causing me any sleepless nights.
Final point about the YouGov poll. 79% of people would want an election if the budget failed a second time.
Me too.
So, no easy way for Iain and Tav to slither into government by the back door, it appears.

I doubt if Labour or the Libs would relish an election, which is why the bill will pass this week.