Labour takes strong lead over SNP in latest poll

Scottish Labour has taken a 10-point lead over the SNP in the latest YouGov poll on Westminster voting intention.

The two parties are also neck-and-neck for Holyrood voting.

The gap in independence support has continued to widen, with 55 per cent of people saying they would vote against it and 45 per cent for.

First Minister John Swinney is the most popular leader in Scotland with a net favourability score of -3.

This is a marked improvement since before he took the top job, with 35 per cent of voters have a favourable opinion of him (up 10 points from April) to 38 per cent of voters who have an unfavourable opinion.

By comparison, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has a net favourability rating of -13 and Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross is on -34.

A general election is expected to take place later this year, though the precise timing is up to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Labour continues to enjoy a sizeable lead over the Conservatives at UK level.

But in Scotland, many of the key battlegrounds will be between Labour and the SNP.

In the latest YouGov poll, conducted 13-17 May, 39 per cent of respondents said they would back Labour at the general election compared to 29 per cent who say they would back the SNP.

This is the highest share for Labour and the lowest for the SNP since the 2014 independence referendum.

The Conservatives are on 12 per cent, Lib Dems on eight, Greens on seven and Reform UK on four.

For a Scottish Parliament election, 35 per cent of voters say they will back Labour in the constituency vote to the SNP’s 34 per cent.

In the list vote, Labour get 32 per cent to the SNPs 28.

The Scottish Tories were on 13 per cent for constituency vote and 14 per cent for regional, the Lib Dems were 10 and nine, and the Greens were five and 11.

Labour leader Keir Starmer has a net favourability rating of -11, while Sunak remains deeply unpopular on -61.

Former First Minister Humza Yousaf is also unpopular with a -40 favourability rating.

Scottish Labour deputy Jackie Baillie welcomed the poll but added her party was “taking nothing for granted”.

She said: “While the SNP try to drag Scotland back into the past with yesterday’s man John Swinney, Scottish Labour is relentlessly focused on the future.

“In place of SNP failure, Scottish Labour has a plan to bring down bills, tackle NHS waiting lists, boost workers’ rights and deliver jobs.”