Labour lead in new poll

Labour are on course for victory at next year's Holyrood election, a new poll has indicated.

The party has opened up a ten-point lead over the SNP in the constituency vote, according to the Ipsos Mori poll carried out after last week's budget.

A similar result in next May's election would see Labour win 58 seats in the Scottish Parliament, 12 more than now. The SNP could see its tally of MSPs fall from the current total of 47 to 43.

Iain Gray's party have the support of 41 per cent of Scots, with the SNP on 31 per cent. The Tories sit third on 13 per cent, overtaking the Liberal Democrats on 11 per cent.

But Labour's lead drops to 36 per cent on the regional list, against the Nationalists' 32 per cent.

Labour's election co-ordinator John Park said the poll was "encouraging." But he added: "We are taking nothing for granted and working hard to win back the trust of Scots next May."

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the poll indicated "there is all to play for next May" and that the election was a "clear two-horse race" between the Nationalists and Labour.