NewsNew opinion poll increases SNP leadLabour Party nears meltdown By Campbell Gunn Hard on the heels of its worst local government election results in 40 years and the election of a Tory mayor in London for the first time, an opinion poll published yesterday shows that in Scotland the SNP have stretched their lead over Labour to 14 points — their biggest ever. A TNS/System Three poll gives the SNP 45 per cent and Labour 31 per cent, on the first, or constituency vote. Serious pressure On the list vote, the SNP are on 41 per cent, and Labour on 29 per cent. Political opponents claim Scottish Labour leader Wendy Alexander is now under serious pressure. In London this weekend, Conservatives are celebrating the election of Boris Johnson, who unseated Ken Livingstone after eight years as mayor. In the local elections, Labour won just 24 per cent of votes cast in England and Wales, leaving them in third place behind the Tories on 44 per cent and the Lib Dems on 25 per cent. SNP business convener Angus Robertson said the Scottish opinion poll was a fantastic birthday present, exactly a year on from last year’s Scottish election. “In the aftermath of Labour’s disastrous showing south of the Border, this puts massive pressure on Wendy Alexander’s leadership of the Labour Party in Scotland,” he claimed. “The gap between the SNP and Labour is becoming as wide as the Clyde. Deficit “Labour’s 14-point deficit nearly matches Wendy’s own negative ratings. “The poll would mean the SNP winning 15 more seats, just three short of an overall majority. “It puts the SNP over 40 per cent for the first time ever on both votes.” The poll puts the constituency vote at SNP 45, Labour 31, Conservatives 12, and Liberal Democrats 11. On the list vote, the SNP are on 41, Labour 29, Conservatives 12, Liberal Democrats 12, and Greens four. This would give a seat projection in the Scottish Parliament of 62 for the SNP, Labour 39, Conservatives 13, Liberal Democrats 13, and Greens two. Denial Scottish Conservative leader Annabel Goldie said that in Scotland Labour were still in denial about the SNP. “Until very recently they’ve been telling themselves it won’t last — it is a blip, a temporary problem, an unpleasant dream they’ll wake up from. “Yet, nearly 12 months on from that historic day, the SNP have actually increased their lead in the opinion polls and the Labour Party are in utter disarray. “Labour are in meltdown, total disarray, and it’s this fact more than any other that has contributed to the currently handsome nationalist advantage.” A spokeswoman for the Scottish Labour Party admitted this had been a tough year for Labour across the UK. “We will listen and learn from what the public have told us,” she added. “But the fact remains that the SNP’s central aim is to rip Scotland from the rest of the UK no matter what |
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