SNP SUPPORT SOARS DESPITE EXAM UTURN

The SNP is on course for an unprecedented majority at Holyrood despite Nicola Sturgeon suffering one of her most humbling weeks in office, according to a poll for The Times.

Yesterday Ms Sturgeon’s government was forced to reverse a decision to lower the exam grades of tens of thousands of pupils, but her government is cementing support for independence as the majority view of voters and the SNP would become the most powerful party in the history of parliament if the latest YouGov results are replicated in May.

The First Minister’s personal approval rating has surged by 45 points — comfortably ahead of her political rivals — and she appears likely to secure a mandate for another constitutional referendum. 

These polls come just a couple of days after Ms Sturgeon accepted responsibility for the SQA's decision to moderate teacher recommendations and apologise. This however seems to have done her or her party no harm, according to YouGov's polling.

What remains to be seen is if the Scottish Education minister John Swinney's painful apology that followed this will in any way detract. We will find out in due course.