SNP on course for a second Holyrood landslide

The poll found support for Scottish independence is at 43 per cent, with 47 per cent opposed and 10 per cent undecided. Picture: Lisa Ferguson

The party is on course to win 56 per cent of constituency votes in next year’s Scottish Parliament election, up from the 45 per cent it won in the last Holyrood vote in 2011.

The SNP won 50 per cent of Scottish votes in the General Election earlier this year to secure an unprecedented 56 out of Scotland’s 59 Westminster seats.

But the new Survation poll found Scots are still narrowly opposed to independence with 43 per cent in favour, 47 per cent opposed and 10 per cent undecided.

The SNP welcomed the poll and said support for independence has grown when undecided voters are removed.

The SNP’s business convener Derek Mackay said: “This is an encouraging poll, highlighting the SNP’s extraordinary positive ratings after eight years in government – and it is also a vote of confidence in the strong start that the new team of SNP MPs has made in standing up for Scotland’s interests at Westminster.”

The poll of more than 1,000 people also showed constituency support has increased for the Scottish Conservatives to 14 per cent and Lib Dems to 7 per cent but has fallen for Labour to 20 per cent and could lead to the loss of all its constituency seats.

The SNP would win 71 Holyrood seats if the poll is replicated across the country next year, while the proportional representation system would see Scottish Labour hold on to 24 of its current 37 seats.

The Scottish Greens would have 12 seats from their 11 per cent regional vote and Ukip would win Scottish representation with 5 per cent of the regional share.