Nicola Sturgeon appears to be overcoming the SNP’s historical problem in appealing to women.
The first minister has made it her mission to encourage women to shatter the glass ceiling since she was appointed last year. She has championed policies including gender targets on public boards, better childcare and the promotion of modern apprenticeships in subjects such as engineering to girls.
Research by YouGov indicates that it is working, with 28 per cent of Scots saying the SNP has the best policies of any party on equality for men and women.
The figure is far higher than for Labour, with only 16 per cent of Scots believing that Jim Murphy’s party has the best policies. Four per cent thought that the Liberal Democrats were best — putting them above only Ukip.
The SNP has previously had a problem attracting female voters. Alex Salmond was rated poorly among that group, according to polls. Surveys before last year’s referendum found support for independence lower among women.
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However, today’s YouGov poll shows that 45 per cent plan to back the Nationalists at the general election, just short of the 48 per cent figure for men. And 60 per cent of women, compared with 63 per cent of men, think that Ms Sturgeon is doing well as first minister. Only 27 per cent of women — 30 per cent of men — think she is doing badly.
The research shows that 27 per cent of women believe the SNP has the best policies on gender equality — although 17 per cent think that none of the parties is succeeding on the issue, compared with only 10 per cent of men.
The findings show widespread public support for the introduction of legal quotas for the proportion of women on public boards. Most women — 54 per cent — back the policy, compared with 40 per cent of men. Overall 47 per cent of Scots back it.
Kezia Dugdale, the Scottish Labour deputy leader, has campaigned heavily for the move. However, the Scottish government has made 50:50 boards a target, rather than a legal requirement. Ms Sturgeon has achieved an equal gender split in her cabinet.
Last night Ms Dugdale said: “Scottish Labour will use the major new powers coming to Scotland to ensure gender equality on the boards of public bodies. This won’t be a voluntary target, it will be the law. The idea that in the 21st century our most important public institutions are dominated by men just isn’t credible.”
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Reacting to the poll — which came as Ms Sturgeon was giving a speech on gender equality to a Convention of Scottish Local Authorities conference — a spokeswoman for the SNP said: “These are very welcome findings, reflecting the fact that the SNP government is doing everything within its powers to promote greater equality and a fairer society. Scotland now has a record number of women in work, but more needs to be done to address workplace inequality.
“Nicola Sturgeon led from the top by appointing a gender-balanced cabinet, and the Scottish government is launching a 50:50 by 2020 campaign, an initiative designed to encourage private, public and third sector organisations to commit to gender balanced boards by 2020. A fairer society will also be an economically more successful one, by harnessing the talents of all the people.”
YouGov also polled on whether Labour candidates should accept donations from Tony Blair. Scots are split on the issue, with 38 per cent thinking the money should be accepted and 42 per cent saying it should not. However, 59 per cent of those who plan to vote Labour believe that the money should be taken.
It comes after Lesley Brennan, who is standing in Dundee East, said she would not take the £1,000 the former prime minister had contributed. Scottish Labour confirmed that the money would be taken anyway and used in the general election battle.
YouGov polled 1,049 Scottish adults between March 10 and 12.