THE SNP remains on course for a landslide victory in next May's Holyrood election, though the party's lead has slipped slightly according to a new poll.

The Ipsos MORI survey for STV news put support for the Nationalists on 50 per cent in the battle for Holyrood constituencies, down five points since August.

Labour were stuck on 20 per cent, just two points ahead of the Scots Tories on 18 per cent - a jump of six points for Ruth Davidson's party.

Similar fluctuations emerged in voting intentions for Holyrood's 56 regional seats, where the Greens, who only contest the 'lists,' were a point behind the Lib Dems on seven per cent.

If repeated on May 5 next year, the SNP would take 72 of Holyrood's 129 seats, three more than they won in 2011.

Labour would have 25 (down 12), the Tories 17 (up two), the Lib Dems seven (down two) and the Greens eight (up six) according to the widely-used ScotlandVotes website.

Nicola Sturgeon remained the most popular leader with a rating of plus 39 - the difference between the 67 per cent of Scots who believe she is doing a good job and the 28 per cent who do not.

However, her rating dipped nine points since August.

The poll, based on survey of 1029 people who were questioned last week, also showed record levels of support for remaining in the EU among Scots.

Almost two thirds of people (65 per cent) said they wanted to stay in the UK, compared with 22 per cent voting to leave and 13 per cent unsure.

A spokesman for the Scottish Conservatives, who made the biggest progress, said: "It’s clear we are the party on the side of hardworking Scots who want to get on in life.

"And we are the only home for people passionate about Scotland’s place in the UK."

SNP Business Convener Derek Mackay said: "This is another very welcome poll showing people in Scotland are continuing to back the SNP’s record in government and our positive, ambitious vision for Scotland’s future – in contrast to a Labour Party which clearly isn’t even regarded as a credible party of opposition, never mind a credible party of government."

A Labour spokesman said: "We are in no doubt that regaining the trust and confidence of the Scottish people will take time but we are confident that with fresh leadership and a focus on cutting the gap between the richest and the rest we can be the party that people in Scotland put their faith in again.

"Scotland needs a radical alternative to an SNP Government who are beginning to make the same mistakes Labour used to make."