Twice as many Scots are to vote for the SNP in the forthcoming general election as will back rivals Labour, a new poll suggests.
The Ipsos Mori poll for STV News found record support levels for the nationalists had continued, with 52% planning on voting for Nicola Sturgeon’s party.
SNP support is at same level as it was in October, while support for Labour has increased by one point to 24%, the study indicated.
Meanwhile support for the Conservatives was up by two points to 12%, with backing for both the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party falling by two points to 4%.
Seat projections suggest if that was the result of the May 7 election, the SNP could increase their number of MPs from six to 55, while Labour – who won 41 Scottish seats in 2005 – could be left with four MPs from north of the border.
The Liberal Democrats, who hold 11 Scottish seats, and the Conservatives, who have one, could be left with no MPs from Scotland, according to the projections.
SNP depute leader Stewart Hosie MP said: “This is another very encouraging poll – with a 28-point SNP lead for May’s Westminster election, this shows remarkable levels of support for the only party that will always put the interests of the people of Scotland front and centre.”
But he stressed: “We are taking absolutely nothing for granted and will work hard for every vote in May. With Labour MPs this week voting with the Tories to spend £100 billion on a new generation of Trident nuclear weapons, and last week voting with the Tories for £30 billion more austerity cuts, people across Scotland can put their trust in the SNP to stand up for their interests, and use our clout in a hung Westminster parliament to end austerity and oppose Trident renewal.
“And it’s clear that there is widespread support for the greatest possible devolution of powers to Holyrood. But the Westminster Government simply isn’t willing to give Scotland the powers we need to build a more equal society and more competitive economy – and that is why we need a strong team of SNP MPs elected next May to hold them to account, and ensure that they finally deliver on their vow to Scotland.”
Mr Hosie added: “What is becoming increasingly clear is that people in Scotland do not have to vote Labour to get rid of the Tories – the SNP will never put the Tories into government.
“Left to their own devices, Labour would continue with austerity. With a strong team of SNP MPs holding the balance of power at Westminster, we can ensure that Scotland’s voice is heard and use our influence positively to end austerity economics, free Scotland of Trident nuclear weapons, and secure the powers we need to build a fairer, more prosperous country.”
A spokesman for the Scottish Conservatives said: “Polls will show a range of outcomes between now and May – the important thing is we continue to point out that the only way to ensure the future or the union and stability of the economy is to vote for the Scottish Conservatives.”
A Scottish Liberal Democrat spokeswoman said: “These national polls do not reflect the performance of each of our excellent MPs in their seats. People were writing us off in 1999 and then in 2007. Each time we grew stronger.
“We have been gaining a good response when we have been campaigning for our local MPs. The SNP put local services at risk when they took their eye off the ball on day-to-day issues in order to concentrate on their campaign for independence. People know that our record of action in Government shows that only the Liberal Democrats can be trusted with both a strong economy and a fair society.”