SCOTTISH Labour have the “greatest lead” over the SNP in a decade, a new poll has suggested.
The research by Norstat, and first reported by The Times, put Labour on 36 per cent (up by three points since October) with the SNP on 33 per cent (down four points) – its strongest poll performance since just after the 2014 indy referendum.
Analysis by polling expert John Curtice finds that this would lead to Scottish Labour returning 28 MPs, with the SNP returning just 18 MPs. The Scottish Conservatives would have 6 MPs and the Lib Dems 5.
Support for Scottish independence remains stable, meanwhile, with the survey finding 48 per cent oppose independence with 47 per cent in favour.
READ MORE: Humza Yousaf urges independence supporters to reject Labour's bid to win them round
Curtice told The Times that this suggests Yes supporters are moving towards voting Labour.
He said: “Whereas at the end of 2022, shortly before Nicola Sturgeon’s resignation, 80 per cent of current Yes supporters were saying they would vote SNP in a UK general election, that figure has now fallen to a new low of 63 per cent.
“The SNP need to overcome two key problems. The first is the relative unpopularity of Humza Yousaf. About one in four (26 per cent) of those who voted SNP at the last Westminster election in 2019 believe that he is doing a bad job as first minister, and they appear especially likely to be unwilling to vote SNP again.”
The University of Strathclyde professor also said that the poll suggested Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar could be first minister following the 2026 Holyrood election.
The SNP would return 47 MSPs, according to Curtice, by winning 36 per cent in the constituency vote and 30 per cent on the regional list.
Labour would have 40 MSPs, meanwhile, the Tories 24, the Greens ten, and the Lib Dems eight.
This would produce the first unionist majority at Holyrood since 2007.
Norstat interviewed 1,007 adults in Scotland aged 16 or older from January 22 to January 25.
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