THE legacy of the referendum is expected to prompt a bumper turnout in tomorrow's general election, with weather unlikely to deter voters.

 

Experts believe that as many as three-quarters of eligible voters north of the border will cast a ballot, between five and 10 per cent higher than the UK as a whole.

Polling expert John Curtice, professor of politics at Strathclyde University, said that an engaged electorate would lead to an above average turnout, although there is little evidence to show which party it will favour.

He said: "Turnout could well be 75 per cent in Scotland. The referendum saw a historically high turnout [almost 85 per cent] and we won't see a repeat of that, but it should certainly be higher than in England and Wales.

"The referendum has left a legacy in all sorts of ways. On the Yes side, people want a repeat, but more broadly, people focussed on a really big question and were persuaded that the political process in Scotland matters."

He added that while one poll had suggested a high turnout may favour the SNP slightly, two others had indicated it would not benefit one side in a meaningful way. He said turnout south of the border was expected to be around 65 per cent, although the tight race may lead to a slightly higher figure.

At the last general election, turnout was 63.8 per cent in Scotland, compared to 65.1 per cent UK-wide.

Tom Costley, group director at TNS Scotland, predicted that SNP supporters would be more likely to vote, attracted by the emotional appeal of the party's message of providing a stronger voice for Scotland.

Meanwhile, spread betting firm Sporting Index has predicted that the turnout in Scotland will be around 73.5 per cent, compared to just under 69 per cent for the UK as a whole.

Sporting Index's political trading spokesman Ed Fulton said: "The Scottish independence referendum turnout broke British electoral records last September. And the lingering disappointment of the 'No' result for nearly 45 per cent of voters, combined with the fact many north of the border feel Westminster betrayed promises they made beforehand, means we expect participation to be high once more.

"The popularity of Nicola Sturgeon and her Scottish National Party has injected some passion and energy into the political arena. With the SNP bandwagon flying along, our traders predict Scottish turnout to be several percentage points higher than the rest of the UK, as voters look to punish Labour in particular and usher in a new era of Scottish politics."

The weather, often seen as a factor in influencing turnout, is unlikely to deter voters. While some rain is forecast, a spokeswoman for the Met Office said it would be "fairly typical" for the time of year.

She added: "In Scotland, there will be some rain, particularly in the far north, and maybe some snow in the Highland areas. Towards the south of Scotland, it should be showery during the morning but largely dry during the latter part of the day. It will be quite breezy in the north east during the morning but that should ease as the day goes on."