The SNP have been tipped to gain five seats at Westminster in a new poll which shows support for Scottish independence is increasing.
Following days of sleaze allegations being levelled at the Conservatives, a Panelbase survey conducted at the end of the week found that support for the Tories is dropping north of the border.
It follows a UK-wide poll by Savanta Comres released yesterday which put Labour six points ahead — a sign that recent revelations about MPs’ second jobs and the handling of the Owen Paterson affair could be hurting Boris Johnson’s party at the ballot box.
READ MORE: Savanta ComRes poll finds six-point lead for Labour in UK race
The Panelbase poll found support for the SNP at Westminster at 48 per cent - up one point since September - while support for the Conservatives has slipped two points to 21 per cent.
Labour is up one at 20 per cent and the Lib Dems are unchanged on 7 per cent.
Sir John Curtice, professor of politics at Strathclyde University, forecast for The Sunday Times, who conducted the poll, that the SNP’s tally of MPs would rise from 48 to 53.
The Tories would lose half their existing six seats, Labour would be stuck on one and the Lib Dems would fall from four to two.
Support for independence has climbed up one point to 49 per cent with opposition at 51 per cent (-1). However, fewer than a quarter (23 per cent) of those asked now believe independence is likely within the next five years — a fall of three points.
The poll of 1,781 voters in Scotland was held between November 9 and 12. The next Holyrood election is not until 2026 but at this stage the SNP looks to be in a commanding position.
On the constituency vote it is polling at 47 per cent (+1), with the Conservatives on 20 per cent (-2), Labour on 19 per cent (+1), Lib Dems on 8 per cent (+1) and the Greens unchanged on 4 per cent.
In the regional vote, the SNP is on 41 per cent (+3), the Tories on 21 per cent (-2), Labour unchanged on 18 per cent, Lib Dems unchanged on 8 per cent, the Greens on 10 per cent (+1) and others at 3 per cent (-1).
On that basis the SNP would remain one seat short of a majority on 64 seats, with the Greens on ten (+2), giving them a combined majority of 19. The Tories would remain in second with 26 seats (-5), with Labour still on 22 seats, and the Lib Dems up from four to seven seats.
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel