Labour is on course to defeat the SNP in Scotland at the next general election for the first time since 2010, according to a new poll. The survey projected that Scottish Labour would win 26 seats at Westminster. Labour currently only has one of the 59 Scottish seats.
This would put the party ahead of the SNP, which is predicted to take 21. The SNP is currently the biggest group of Scottish MPs by far, with 45. The Conservatives are projected to take seven and the Liberal Democrats would win five, adding one extra seat each.
The Panelbase poll for the Sunday Times has been carried out since the arrest of former first minister Nicola Sturgeon on Sunday. She was released without charge pending further investigation after seven hours.
It also comes after the SNP were hammered by Labour in a council by-election in North Lanarkshire and comes ahead of a potential by-election in Rutherglen and Hamilton West in the next few months.
The research also found that support for the SNP has dropped. Some 34 per cent said they would vote for the party at the next general election. This was down five points compared with Panelbase’s last poll in March.
This puts the SNP level with Labour, which is up three points over the same period. The Conservatives would take 18 per cent and the Liberal Democrats and would win seven per cent each. The final seven per cent would be picked up by smaller parties.
Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: “The polls are clear – Labour has ended the SNP’s stranglehold on Scottish politics and is fighting to win seats across the country. The people of Scotland know that only Labour can kick the Tories out and deliver the change we need – all the SNP offer is more chaos and sleaze.
“The road to a Labour government runs through Scotland, and the next Labour government will deliver for the people of Scotland. From tackling the cost-of-living crisis to generating thousands of green jobs, Scottish Labour is the change Scotland needs.”
Panelbase interviewed 1,007 people aged 16 and over in Scotland between June 12 and 15.
SNP Depute Leader Keith Brown said: “Following a tough few weeks for the party, support for the SNP remains strong – but we will continue to take absolutely nothing for granted and work every day to deliver for the people of Scotland.
“Until the next election, the people-powered SNP campaign will bring that positive message of a fairer, greener and more equal nation to the doorsteps and will fight relentlessly for every single vote.
“Only the full powers of independence can protect Scotland from the damage of Brexit and the mismanagement of Tory governments Scotland doesn’t vote for. The SNP remain the political powerhouse to deliver that change.”
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