SNP's Humza Yousaf hit by devastating polling results after 100 days as First Minister

During his time in office, Yousaf has faced internal issues within the SNP and a number of policy U-turns on the deposit return scheme and highly protected marine areas (HPMAs).

The survey of 1,100 Scots between June 26 and 29 found that just 23 per cent endorsed Yousaf.

A previous poll conducted within his first few weeks in office found 19 per cent of people thought Yousaf was doing well, and 44 per cent believed the opposite.

The First Minister found himself with a slightly better rating than Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, with 22 per cent of Scots saying he was doing a good job leading the UK Government.

In addition, those polled were given six topics and asked to evaluate Yousaf’s performance, including on the cost of living, where just 15 per cent believed he had done well, compared to 60 per cent believing the opposite.

On Scottish independence, 18 per cent believed he had handled the issue well, while 50 per cent did not.

A spokesman for the First Minister said the recent polling has shown the SNP remains the “most popular party in Scotland, which reflects the record of delivery of the new Scottish Government”.

The spokesman added: “In his first hundred days, HumzaYousaf defined the core missions of his administration – equality, opportunity, community – and introduced substantial measures to help achieve these aims.

“His first action as First Minister was to triple the funding to help households most vulnerable to fuel poverty, and more than 300,000 families are benefiting from our game-changing Scottish Child Payment – which is unique in the UK.

“We have launched a new 10-year cancer strategy to improve survival rates and provide excellent, accessible care for all, and are making progress in cutting NHS waiting lists.

“Just last week, the First Minister announced the biggest pay uplift since devolution for senior medical and dental staff, and Scotland continues to be the only nation in the UK that has avoided NHS strikes over the last year.

“Work to reset relationships with business and local government is well underway, as well as rebuilding and reshaping how education is delivered.

“Putting the needs of people is at the heart of everything we do as a Government.”

But Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said the First Minister had “somehow managed to fall short of the low expectations we had of him”.

“He has been missing in action while Scots struggled with the worst cost of living crisis in decades and the NHS crisis he let spiral as health secretary,” she said.

“He failed as transport minister, justice secretary, health secretary – and now he is failing as First Minister too, leaving his party and our country in chaos.”