Lamont’s Labour closing gap on SNP, poll reveals

A NEW poll reveals that Labour has narrowed the gap on the SNP at Holyrood, giving the Scottish party’s leader Johann Lamont a fresh boost as MSPs prepare for their summer break.

The Ipsos Mori survey shows the SNP remains clearly out in front, holding the support of 45 per cent of people who are certain to vote

However, Labour is now at 32 per cent, up nine points since January. The SNP’s support is down four points since the turn of the year, with the post-election bounce it received after last year’s Holyrood election having receded,

Equally, while First Minister Alex Salmond remained ahead of Mrs Lamont as the most popular party leader in Scotland, the gap has narrowed significantly. Mr Salmond’s ratings – calculated as the number of people satisfied with his performance minus those dissatisfied – is now rated by Ipsos Mori at +13 per cent, down nine points from January.

Mrs Lamont is now close behind him however, with her own personal ratings having shot up to +9 per cent, up 15 per cent from the turn of the year.

The biggest move of all, however, is for David Cameron whose ratings in Scotland have plumetted to -46 per cent, down 18 points in just six months.

In total, seven out of ten Scots asked about the Prime Minister said they were dissatisfied with his performance.

Christopher McLean of Ipsos Mori Scotland said: “This is an encouraging poll for Johann Lamont and Labour. Following the increase in her personal ratings, it also suggests she has had some success in reversing the considerable decline in support for Labour.”