THOUSANDS of voters are set to turn their backs on the Democratic Unionist Party over the RHI scandal in the upcoming Assembly elections, a new poll reveals.

And the startling results reveal that Arlene Foster is rated lowest of any political leader in Northern Ireland.

9 Arlene Foster is scoring the lowest of all leaders Credit: Pacemaker Press

The poll, by LucidTalk, suggests voters are aiming to dish out a ballot box punishment to the former first minister.

But there is no suggestion the DUP will still be anything less than Ulster’s biggest party after the votes are counted.

The polls also show Sinn Fein and its new Northern Ireland leader Michelle O’Neill riding high.

In numbers, which buck the trend of recent years, the republican party in particular, along with the SDLP, are gaining ground amid signs of a resurgence in nationalist voting.

And the poll spells great news for those in the middle ground and predicts success is on the way for the UUP.

Significantly, new Alliance chief Naomi Long is being rated highest among all leaders at 52.2 per cent.

Mrs Foster is languishing at the bottom with 21.6 per cent.

9 Naomi Long is rated high at 52.2% Credit: PA:Press Association

The signs are that Alliance, along with The Greens, are set for a boost on election day in part as a result of disgruntled unionists.

And Mike Nesbitt’s UUP could well be in line for a bounce from DUP voters who feel their party has blundered over the Renewable Heating Incentive debacle. Those expected to benefit are Sinn Fein, SDLP, UUP, Alliance, Greens, People Before Profit and TUV.

Overall losers are, at this stage, likely to be DUP, PUP and UKIP, with the DUP suffering a sizeable 3.3 per cent fall in fortunes.

All are running for an Assembly which, this time around, has 90 seats on offer, downsized from 108 in last May’s poll.

Interestingly, when voters were asked which issue was at the top of their agenda in the snap election, a majority said the Health Service.

RHI, despite topping the headlines for weeks, sits at second place in terms of what Northern Ireland is most concerned about.

9 Mike Nesbitt Credit: PA:Press Association

When asked to rate issues in order of importance, voters put the NHS at the top, then RHI, education, equality, jobs, Brexit and Irish unity.

The poll, conducted last week, tells how the total vote for unionist parties is set to drop from 47.9 per cent at last year’s assembly election to 46.3 this time around.

That suggests fractures within unionism over recent events which has many reconsidering their first and other preference votes.

Total nationalist votes are on the rise from 39.3 per cent to 40.2 per cent.

9 Jim Allister Credit: PA:Press Association

Pollster Bill White said: “This is reversal of the trend in nationalism in recent years.”

But the biggest success story so far is set to told by the parties in the so-called middle ground – Alliance and the Greens.

Between them their vote is in line to rocket from an 8.5 per cent share to a 12.7 per cent share.

9 Sinn Fein's new Northern Ireland leader Michelle O’Neill Credit: PA:Press Association

But the trouble on the cards for the DUP may leave the party no more than winded, with party voters in the main standing firm beside Mrs Foster.

As long as the drift from the DUP does not continue, March 2 could well work out better for the party than some might have predicted.

Among trends detected in the poll, there are suggestions of an increase in SDLP voters transferring other preferences to the UUP – and vice versa.

The ‘tactical’ move could benefit both parties in potentially more fluid political landscapes such as South Belfast, North Down and Strangford. Trends also suggest that UUP voters are now less likely to transfer to DUP and instead offer their support to the middle ground and SDLP.

Also noteworthy is that TUV’s first preference voters appear now more likely to go with UUP as a second choice than with DUP.

In terms of ratings, only one Northern Ireland leader tops the 50 per cent mark – and that’s so-called “Ginger Ninja” Naomi Long. As with other MLAs, she has been front and centre with her analysis since the RHI scandal broke, but has clearly secured more kudos than other leaders during the period.

Next in the rating league is TUV's Jim Allister on 48.8 per cent, then Sinn Fein's Michelle O'Neill on 46.1 per cent, People Before Profit's Eamonn McCann on 45.9 per cent, UUP's Mike Nesbitt is on 44.5 per cent, the Green Party's Steven Agnew is on 44.3 per cent, Colum Eastwood of the SDLP is on 43.3 per cent.

9 Colum Eastwood Credit: PA:Press Association

The fallout from the scandal surrounding the scheme, which is some £490m over budget, resulted in the resignation of Sinn Fein’s deputy first minister, Martin McGuinness, the collapse of Stormont’s institutions and the calling of the election.

There is no sign that Mrs O’Neill faces the troubles set to be faced by Mrs Foster at the polls over the RHI issue, despite her role in promoting it when she was the agriculture minister.

She had hosted 58 workshops explaining its benefits while she was in charge.

TUV Lagan Valley candidate Sammy Morrison said: “The shine has gone off Mrs Foster.

“People across the spectrum recognise the ability of Jim Allister in the Assembly and appreciate the work he is doing,” he said, adding many unionists felt “let down.”

“We would say to those people that we understand that feeling of disappointment,” he added.

9 Steven Agnew Credit: Pacemaker Press

Gerry Carroll MLA, from People Before Profit, said: “This poll indicates that attitudes are beginning to shift, and that people are opening up to a new way of thinking.

The small but significant increase in support for People Before Profit is surely an indication of this.”

He added: “We believe that the tide is beginning to turn against the establishment. People are sick to the back teeth of the corruption on the hill, they want something new.”

DUP Deputy Leader Nigel Dodds, the party’s director of elections, said his focus is on tackling “Sinn Fein’s republican agenda”.

9 The political poll was carried out by LucidTalk

“The poll results show the election is on a knife edge.Every vote will matter in a way it may not have before,” he said.

“In the coming weeks we intend to fight for every vote in every seat. We want to see devolution restored so we can get back to delivering for the people of Northern Ireland.”

9 Eamonn McCann Credit: Pacemaker Press

Alliance MLA Stewart Dickson said the poll revealed “the clear mood for change throughout Northern Ireland.”

He added: “However, while it will no doubt inspire debate ahead of what is the best opportunity for change we have seen in a generation, the most important poll is on March 2.

“Alliance will take nothing for granted but rather continue working hard and concentrating on the issues so people will be inspired to vote for the change we are promising and ensure Naomi Long leads a strong team back to the Assembly.”

Polling by LucidTalk between 27/01/17 and 29/01/17. Balanced, weighted NI representative sample of 1,580 respondents. All data results produced are accurate to a margin of error of +/-3.0%, at 95% confidence.