Mike Nesbitt has been rated the most popular Executive minister in a new poll. The Ulster Unionist Party’s Health Minister received a 47% approval rating.
In the poll by LucidTalk, Matthew O’Toole scored second in the popularity ratings with an approval rating of 45%. He is the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) leader of the opposition, and is not in the Executive.
The worst performing minister according to the poll is Justice Minister Naomi Long. The Alliance MLA received an approval rating of just 33%. She has faced extensive criticism from across the Assembly chamber in recent months.
Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly was slightly ahead of her Executive Office partner, First Minister Michelle O’Neill, on 44% and 43% respectively.
Finance Minister John O’Dowd is the fifth most popular, with an approval rating of 42%. He is followed by Sinn Féin colleague and Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald on 40%.
The DUP’s Gordon Lyons is ahead of Paul Givan, who faced backlash from Sinn Féin and the SDLP after visiting Israel and using departmental resources whilst there. The Communities Minister is on 38%, with the Education Minister on 36%.
Alliance’s Andrew Muir is in joint eight with Paul Givan, ahead of party colleague Naomi Long.
Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins, who joined the Executive in February 2025, is the second-worst rated minister, on 35%.
The poll was carried out by LucidTalk for the Belfast Telegraph between January 16 and 19. 2,975 people took part, with the sample being scientifically weighted to reflect the Northern Ireland population.
