THIRTY per cent of those who voted Labour in 2010 are set to vote SNP in May, according to a new poll.

The poll conducted in 40 constituencies currently held by Labour shows support for the SNP at 43 per cent, with projections suggesting they could take almost three-quarters of Labour seats.

It showed a swing of 19 points from Labour to the SNP, meaning they could take at least 28 Scottish seats from Ed Miliband’s party.

Thirty-five per cent of SNP voters said the reason they were backing the SNP was they believed that the Labour party “no longer represents people like me”, while 56 per cent said it was because of their desire for Scotland to be independent.

Support for Conservatives averaged 13 per cent across the 40 seats, with the Liberal Democrats, the Scottish Greens and Ukip each on two per cent.

Less than a third of those questioned wish to see David Cameron back in number 10, with 49 per cent saying they would rather see Ed Miliband in charge.

SNP MP Angus Robertson said: “While this poll is very welcome, we are taking absolutely nothing for granted and we will work harder than ever to win people’s trust on May 7 so we can deliver jobs and investment, instead of more Westminster austerity cuts.”

“By electing more anti-Tory MPs than Tory MPs we can lock David Cameron out of Downing Street - and put an end to the ideological commitment to austerity which is hurting communities across Scotland and elsewhere in the UK,” he said.