Scottish Labour cuts SNP poll lead by half

SCOTTISH Labour has more than halved the SNP’s lead in the polls in Scotland in a shift which could save the party 20 Westminster seats.

Jim Murphy: Labour poll boost. Picture: Lisa Ferguson

The TNS poll of 1,006 voters has the SNP on 41 per cent, Labour 31, Tories 16, Greens 6, Lib Dems 4 and Ukip 2.

While the SNP remains in the lead, the poll is a boost to Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy whose party was trailing by 52 per cent to 24 per cent in an Ipsos Mori poll last month.

According to research carried out for the Electoral Reform Society by polling expert Professor John Curtice of Strathclyde University, the narrowing of the SNP lead to ten points means Labour could hold on to at least half of its 41 Scottish seats. The previous poll suggested the SNP would win 50 of the 59 seats north of the Border.

A Labour spokesman said: “These polls show that Scottish Labour is still behind and has a gap to close. But in the end the only people who will benefit from these polls are David Cameron and the Tories.”

An SNP spokesman said: “This poll shows a strong lead for the SNP – but we are taking absolutely nothing for granted.”

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