General Election: SNP dominate ‘voting intentions’

The online poll puts support for the Nationalists at 43 per cent, up from 19.9 per cent at the last Westminster election. Picture: Greg Macvean

A Guardian/ICM online poll of 1,004 adults puts support for the Nationalists at 43 per cent, up from 19.9 per cent at the last Westminster election.

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Support for Labour has fallen to 26 per cent, compared with 42 per cent in 2010, while backing for the Conservatives has also dropped from 16.7 per cent to 13 per cent.

The poll puts the Liberal Democrats on 6 per cent, down from 18.9 per cent at the last election, while support for the Greens has risen from 0.7 per cent to 4 per cent.

The findings echo those of recent research by Survation for the Daily Record, which found that 48 per cent of voters would back the SNP with Labour trailing on 24 per cent.

According to the ICM poll, 30 per cent of people do not think that the Smith Commission, set up in the wake of the independence referendum to broker a package of new powers for Holyrood, went far enough in its recommendations, with 26 per cent saying the agreement was about right.

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More than half (53 per cent) said Scotland should be able to set its own corporation tax rate, a power sought by the SNP but not recommended for devolution by the commission.

Respondents were also asked for their views on the UK nuclear deterrent at Faslane naval base, which the SNP opposes.

A total of 43 per cent thought that Trident should be scrapped, while 37 per cent wanted it maintained and 20 per cent said they did not know.

Jenny Marra MSP, Scottish Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, said the recent election of new leader Jim Murphy heralded a “fresh start” for the party.

She said: “We will come back in the New Year with passion and energy, setting out our vision for making Scotland the fairest nation on earth.

“We want the wealthiest Scots to pay a little bit more in tax so we can improve our NHS and give the poorest kids being let down by the SNP government in Edinburgh a better start in life.

“The choice facing Scots next May is clear - we can send SNP MPs to the House of Commons to protest against the Tories, or we can send Scottish Labour MPs to replace the Tories.

“The only way to remove David Cameron from Downing Street and return a UK Labour Government is to vote Labour.”

Angus Robertson MP, SNP general election campaign director, said: “This is another very encouraging poll for the SNP, on top of the Survation poll showing the party on a record high.

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“While these polls are extremely welcome, we take absolutely nothing for granted - and the hard work begins in the New Year to ensure that Scotland’s voice is heard at Westminster.

“This is the second poll in a week showing that Jim Murphy has experienced a ‘reverse honeymoon’ as Scottish Labour leader, with Labour trailing far behind the SNP. It will take more than a change of leader to turn around the fortunes of a party paying the price for a toxic alliance with the Tories.

“More and more people are putting their trust in the SNP to stand up for Scotland’s interests, and ensure that Westminster delivers the powers needed to strengthen and grow the Scottish economy and create a fairer society.”

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