Scottish Labour set to lose 28 seats, says poll

A new poll has predicted that Labour will lose 28 Scottish seats in the general election. Picture: John Devlin

The ComRes poll for ITV, taken from 1,300 adults in 40 seats currently held by Labour, gives the SNP a lead of 43 per cent to 37 per cent, a 19 point swing from the last general election.

The results come as shadow chancellor Ed Balls is due to give a speech in Glasgow today with three reasons why Scots should not vote SNP.

Mr Balls will promise “an end to austerity” and claim the SNP would not support taxes on the rich or pooling resources in the UK and would be helping the Tories be the biggest party.

Of the 40 seats the poll was taken in, the poll suggests Labour will lose 28 to the SNP. However, according to Scotland Votes analysis, if the poll reflects the national mood across Scotland, Labour would hold on to 27 of its 41 seats while the SNP would increase from six to 30.

The same analysis would see the Lib Dems wiped out in all 11 seats except Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael’s Orkney and Shetland constituency while the Tories would hold on to their only seat.

SNP campaign director Angus Robertson said: “Labour continues to pay the price for working hand in glove with the Tories during the referendum.”

A Scottish Labour spokesman said: “This poll shows some improvement for Scottish Labour, but we aren’t getting carried away with ourselves.”