THE SNP remains on course to win a landslide at May's Holyrood election, as a new poll also revealed strong support for remaining in the EU north of the border.

A TNS survey found that despite a series of UK-wide polls indicating a tight race over Britian's EU membership, just 21 per cent of Scots are planning to vote to leave compared to 44 per cent in favour of staying in.

Although the gap has narrowed slightly and almost a third remain undecided, it indicated that Scotland is on course to vote strongly in favour of remaining in the EU with a vote to take place as soon as June. Nicola Sturgeon has said such a result may lead to a a second independence referendum, should Scotland be dragged out on the back of votes from the rest of the UK.

The Herald:

Tom Costley, Head of TNS Scotland said: "With the referendum on membership of the EU looking increasingly likely to take place in 2016, people may be starting to focus on Britain’s membership of the European Union, despite concerns expressed by the First Minister about holding the referendum in June so soon after elections to the devolved assemblies.

"With such a high level of ‘Don’t Knows’ it’s still all to play for, and there remains a positive view of the European Union in Scotland."

Meanwhile, the SNP is enjoying a significant lead ahead of May's Holyrood poll, with Nicola Sturgeon on course to record a second nationalist majority.

The poll, of 1016 adults, put the SNP on 57 per cent in the constituency section, a huge 36 per cent ahead of Labour on 21 per cent. Kezia Dugdale's party is four points ahead of the Tories, on 17 per cent, with the Liberal Democrats dropping to just three per cent.

The SNP is also way out in front on the regional list vote polling at 52 per cent, with Labour on 19, the Tories on 17, with the LibDems and Greens both on six.

TNS said it was important to note that with fewer than 100 days to go until polling day, it is now reporting voting intentions among those expressing a preference and who are certain to vote on the day, a shift in the pollster's methodology.

Almost two thirds of people are saying they are certain to vote, reversing the trend which has been evident in the past few months, increasing from 58 per cent in December and back to a level not seen since September 2015.

The Herald:

 

According to PR agency Weber Shandwick's seat calculator, if the result is repeated on May 5 it would leave the SNP with 73 MSPs, up four on its historic 2011 landslide. Labour would be left with 26 seats, down from 37, and lose every constituency it currently holds.

The calculator predicts that Ruth Davidson is on course to achieve her ambitious goal of recording the highest ever intake of Tory MSPs, picking up three constituencues and gaining a further 17 list MSPs.

The LibDems would be left with six MSPs, up one, with the Greens doubling their cohort to four.

The Herald: