Scots Labour To Finish 2nd, Says Poll

1 May 2016, 09:25 | Updated: 3 May 2016, 17:32

The Scottish Conservatives have slipped behind Labour in the race for second place in the Holyrood election, according to a new poll.

The Panelbase research for The Sunday Times and Capital suggest that the gap between the two parties is widening as Thursday's vote approaches.

It follows several polls that put them neck and neck, leading to speculation the Tories could overtake Kezia Dugdale's party as the official opposition in the Scottish Parliament.

The latest survey puts Labour six points clear of their Conservative rivals in the constituency vote, at 23% and 17% respectively.

The SNP retains a clear lead on 49%, with support for the the Lib Dems on 6% and the Greens on 3%.

In the regional vote, backing for the SNP has slipped three points to 44%, with Labour on 22% ahead of the Tories on 19%.

The Liberal Democrats are polling at 4%, Ukip 3%, the Greens 6% and Rise 2%.

John Curtice, professor of politics at Strathclyde University, told the Sunday Times: "While support for the Conservatives has largely held steady, it looks as though Labour may have been able to capture from the SNP some of those who were thinking of voting for Nicola Sturgeon but who are opposed to independence.

"Certainly the poll is a timely reminder to Ruth Davidson that her party's chances of coming second have always seemed to rest much more on how badly Labour might do rather than how far the Conservatives might advance - and maybe Labour will not do quite so badly after all.''

The poll found a majority (53%) of voters favour remaining in the UK with support for independence on 47%.

However in the event of the UK voting to leave the EU, 52% said they would back independence compared to 48% who would not.

Panelbase interviewed 1,074 adults in Scotland between April 23 and 28.