Labour still optimistic as SNP near power
Despite a consistent poll lead for the SNP, the Labour leader Jack McConnell has insisted there is still “all to play for” ahead of next week’s Scottish election.
Mr McConnell predicted Labour would regain its edge over the SNP as the campaign enters its final weekend.
Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland, he said many voters were undecided but now realised how important the Holyrood election is, and predicted turn out would be high.
“That means that there is all to play for,” he told the BBC’s Good Morning Scotland programme.
“This is an election, it is about electing a government, it’s not a game and therefore it is essential we put across the choice that exists, the consequences of the vote.
“This is about the government of Scotland, it’s about the future of our country, people should think very carefully about that choice.”
Mr McConnell rejected claims Labour’s election campaign had been “relentlessly negative”, insisting they had simply pointed out the “consequences” of voting for the SNP.
He claimed voters are being attracted to Labour’s commitment to education, described as “more radical than the smoking ban.”
Tony Blair has also been increasing the pressure on the SNP, by warning of a “triple tax whammy” if they are elected to government.
The SNP are consistently beating Labour in opinion polls and are now predicted to oust the Labour-Lib Dem coalition that has governed Holyrood.
A YouGov poll for the Telegraph found that support for the SNP has risen to 39 per cent in the constituency vote and 31 per cent in the regions. Support is now reminiscent of the nationalist’s heyday in the 1970s and could see Alex Salmond appointed first minister.
Labour’s support has dropped five points in the constituency poll to 30 per cent, also falling two in the regions to 27 per cent.
Despite the Conservatives leading in the national opinion polls, their support has declined to 13 per cent in both constituency and regional polls.
Translated into seats, Professor John Curtice of Strathclyde University told the paper this could leave the SNP with 44 MSPs. Labour would lose their status as the largest single party with 34 MSPs. The Lib Dems and Tories would win 17, while proportional representation in the regions would see the Greens take nine seats.
Any party must achieve 65 seats for an overall majority. Even if they perform as predicted, the SNP will need to decide whether to lead as a minority government or form a coalition, most likely with the Lib Dems.
Mr Salmond had raised concerns that a unionist coalition could prevent the SNP forming a government. However, Lib Dem leader Nicol Stephen conceded that the largest party would have a “moral authority” to form a government.
The Lib Dems would seek a coalition with the SNP in this case, he told the Scotsman, although admitted this could fail if the nationalists pushed for a referendum on Scottish independence.
