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Poll shows support for Lib Dems has slumped

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Support in Scotland for the Liberal Democrats has dropped dramatically in recent weeks as massive cuts to public spending dominated the headlines.

Labour and the SNP claimed the YouGov survey published on Thursday showed the Scottish Lib Dems were paying the price for the coalition with the Conservatives at Westminster.

Popular support for the party dropped by three points to 8% in the Scottish Parliament constituency voting intentions and four points to 8% in the regional list since the last poll was carried out in September.

The poll also found that Labour is maintaining its lead over the SNP but the gap between the two parties has narrowed.

Scottish Labour’s campaign co-ordinator, Mid Scotland and Fife MSP John Park, said the party was taking nothing for granted in the run-up to next year’s election.

“The message to the Lib Dems is that if you walk like a Tory, if you talk like a Tory Scotland will treat you like a Tory.”

He added, “With the Salmond slump costing us almost 50,000 jobs, people feel let down by the SNP’s broken promises.”

SNP campaign co-ordinator Angus Robertson said the results showed the gap between them and Labour was closing.

“Voters will not allow Labour to escape from their responsibility for the economic mess and the cuts coming Scotland’s way and it is clear the Lib Dems are paying a heavy price for backing the Tories,” he said.

But a spokesman for the Liberal Democrats said the party was paying little attention to the survey.

“The only poll that matters is May next year,” he said. “We will be campaigning right up to polling day on jobs, reforming public services and restoring Scotland’s reputation for excellence in education.”

About 1400 people were asked who they would back in an election in the survey carried out between Monday and Wednesday this week.

That was shortly after the SNP held its conference in Perth, but before the full details of the UK Government’s comprehensive spending review were made public on Wednesday.

Labour’s share grew by one point to 40% for the constituency vote and held steady at 36% in the regional vote.

However, the survey put support for the SNP, which formed a minority Scottish Government after the last election in 2007, up by five points in both votes compared to the last poll at the start of September.

The change moves the SNP from 29% to 34% in the constituency vote and from 26% to 31% in the regional vote.

Murdo Fraser, deputy leader of the Scottish Conservatives, said the survey showed his party can win extra seats in the election.

“Scots are recognising that, north and south of the border, we are prepared to tackle the dire legacy of debt and deficit left by Labour, in order to secure the recovery,” he said.