SCOTTISH Labour are “dying on their feet” as voters continue to desert them, despite the election of Jeremy Corbyn and Kezia Dugdale.
In a poll for TNS, carried out after both Corbyn and Dugdale had been elected, a time when leaders are expected to see a “bounce” in the polls, Labour are down two points on the previous month to 21 per cent in the constituency vote.
To put that in perspective, Labour are now polling three points lower than they did in May’s General Election.
The research also looked at voting intentions by generation. Just 13 per cent of 16 to 34-year-olds are supporting Labour, down four points on last month, compared to 68 per cent who are backing the SNP. Yesterday, during an angry exchange at First Minister’s Question time, Nicola Sturgeon said Labour needed to change tactics “before it is far too late for a party that is dying on its feet”.
The research of 1,037 adults in Scotland was carried out between September 9-30.
Support for the SNP was at 56 per cent in the constituency vote, some 35 points ahead of Labour. The Conservatives remain unchanged at 12 per cent, the Liberal Democrats on six per cent and the Scottish Greens on five per cent.
In the regional section of the ballot, support for the SNP was at 52 per cent, Labour was on 23 per cent, the Tories on 11 per cent, the Liberal Democrats on six per cent and the Scottish Greens on five per cent.
According to Weber Shandwick’s Scotland votes predictor the result would see the SNP win 76 seats in Holyrood, including all but one constituency seat.
Labour would lose five seats, taking them to 33, and the Tories would also lose four taking them to 11. Both the LibDems and Greens would gain one MSP taking them to six and three respectively.
Tom Costley, head of TNS Scotland, said there was some reassuring news for Labour: “People are still getting to know the new Labour leaders so it’s not surprising there has been little immediate impact on voting intentions.
“One crumb of comfort for Labour may be that the overwhelmingly negative media commentary on Corbyn’s election appears not to have affected the party’s Scottish support, though the poll was carried out before his recent statement that he would never authorise the use of the UK’s nuclear deterrent if he became prime minister.”
SNP business convener Derek Mackay MSP said it was another “incredible” poll for the SNP.
“But we, of course, take absolutely nothing for granted and will be working hard every day between now and May to ensure that we retain the trust of people in Scotland – and secure the re-election of Nicola Sturgeon and an SNP Government with an unparalleled track record of delivering for Scotland,” he said.
Mackay continued: “While a hopelessly divided Labour party tears itself apart as their divisions deepen, the SNP are getting on with the job of delivering in Government and standing up for Scotland at Westminster – which is exactly why people are continuing to put their trust in us.”
The poll also asked voters how they would cast their ballot in the referendum on remaining a part of the EU.
Almost half (47 per cent) of Scots questioned want the country to remain part of the EU while 18 per cent support leaving.
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