Scottish National Party Has Significant Lead in Opinion Poll

After seven years in office the Scottish National Party (SNP) holds a substantial 9 per cent lead in a poll on voting intentions for the next Scottish Parliament elections. The Ipsos MORI poll was conducted between 26th May and 1st June 2014 and amongst those stating they were certain to vote 39 per cent backed SNP, 30 percent Labour, 14 per cent Tories, 5 per cent Scottish Greens and  5 percent LibDems, (UKIP came in on a lower percentage in sixth place). This represents a major vote of confidence for the SNP from the Scottish people more than seven years after coming to power.

Another significant finding from the poll was the increase in net satisfaction levels for SNP Leader Alex Salmond +5% (+7%) and Deputy Leader Nicola Sturgeon +13% (+4%). Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat Party leaders in the Scottish Parliament saw a decrease in net satisfaction levels, but there was a (+5%) for Patrick Harvie co-convenor of the Scottish Greens who support Scottish independence. In a blow to the anti-independence ‘Better Together’ campaign, their leader Alistair Darling had a net satisfaction figure of -16 (-13).