POLLING evidence has emerged that the Tories could be on course to replace Labour as the main opposition party at Holyrood next year.
UK Elections posted on Twitter late on Tuesday that its latest survey put the SNP at 71 seats, Labour at 26 and the Conservatives at 24.
It was unclear how many people were polled and when and whether factors such as Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale’s stance on allowing Labour MPs and MSPs to campaign for independence in the event of a second referendum could be behind Unionist voters deserting her party in favour of the Tories. It was also not clear whether the election of Jeremy Corbyn as leader and the splits he has presided over lay behind the apparent crumbing in Labour support.
According to UK Elections’ results, the Greens were predicted to get five seats and the LibDems three. The findings follow reports earlier this year that the Scottish Tories are to fight to topple Labour as the main opposition party at Holyrood next year with a populist election pledge to cut taxes using new powers given to the Scottish Parliament in the Queen’s Speech.
Sources in the party have said they are confident they can increase the number of seats they have at Holyrood – currently 15, making them the third largest party – and take advantage of Scottish Labour’s continuing difficulties following its disastrous General Election, in which it lost 40 of its 41 MPs.
They have also pointed out that their leader Ruth Davidson is well-regarded and potentially able to attract voters to the Tory cause among middle-class Scots keen to pay lower taxes, as well as get the backing of one-time Tory voters who may have voted tactically for Labour in a bid to stop the SNP.
“Ruth’s proved already that she appeals well beyond the traditional Conservative vote. It’s widely acknowledged she had a fantastic referendum and a great General Election campaign,” a Scottish Conservative source told The National earlier this year. “Labour ran away from its part in Better Together almost as soon as the result was announced on September 19.
“The voters noticed this and punished them at the ballot box.”
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