SNP OVERTAKE LABOUR IN YOUGOV CONSTITUENCY VOTE – SCOTSMAN POLL

For Immediate Release – Tuesday 29 March 2011


Attn: NEWS DESKS


POLITICAL CORRESPONDENTS



AND AHEAD OF LABOUR IN STRAIGHT CONTEST BY 44% TO 42%


BIG MOMENTUM IN CAMPAIGN WITH SNP

Welcoming the YouGov poll in the Scotsman newspaper tomorrow [Wednesday], Scottish National Party Depute Leader and Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said:

"This is an excellent poll, confirming that the SNP have the big momentum in this campaign. Since last month’s YouGov poll, we have reversed a 9-point Labour lead in the constituency vote to move ahead for the first time in a year. It shows that we can reach the election-winning 40 per cent threshold, and we have also moved forward 6 points on the regional list since last month – where our ‘Alex Salmond for First Minister’ message stands us in extremely good stead to make further progress.

“Significantly, the poll also puts the SNP ahead of Labour in a straight contest, by 44 per cent to 42 per cent – and Scotland’s election is a clear two-horse race, particularly as the Westminster coalition parties continue to haemorrhage support to the SNP.


"The poll also adds to the wealth of evidence demonstrating that Alex Salmond is streets ahead of the other leaders in terms who would be best First Minister.

“Labour’s unremitting negativity is coming unstuck.

“We are confident that we can win people’s trust, and that voters will endorse the positive record of the SNP in Government – with 1,000 more police on our streets, a continued council tax freeze, a record 25,000 apprenticeship places for young Scots, and protection for health

spending.”



Note:

The YouGov poll for the Scotsman newspaper was conducted between 25-28 March, among 1,025 Scottish adults.

The figures in brackets refer to changes since the YouGov poll conducted on 11-12 February 2011:



* Constituency vote

SNP: 40% (+8)


Lab: 39% (-2)


Con: 11% (-4)


Lib Dem: 5% (-3)


Oth: 5%

* Regional list vote



SNP: 32% (+6)


Lab: 39% (-1)


Con: 12% (-3)


Lib Dem: 5% (-2)


Green: 6%


SSP: 4%


Sol: 0


Oth: 2%

* If you had to choose between Labour and the SNP, irrespective of who you would normally vote for. Party support:

SNP: 44%


Lab: 42%


Don’t know: 13%

* Who would make the best First Minister:

Alex Salmond: 38%


Iain Gray: 14%


Annabel Goldie: 9%


Tavish Scott: 3%


Patrick Harvie: 1%