SNP would win more votes and seats, new poll
2008-04-30
Welcoming the YouGov poll in the Daily Telegraph today [Wednesday], which shows a strengthening lead for the Scottish National Party over Labour and the other parties – projected to win 51 seats to Labour’s 45 – SNP Depute Leader and Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon MSP said:
“We are delighted with these poll figures. The growing SNP lead shows that the honeymoon continues a year into government, on the back of solid policy delivery.
"The poll shows the SNP winning more votes and more seats since last May, with sensational approval ratings for Alex Salmond, and a significantly increased lead over Labour and the other parties.
"This YouGov poll puts the SNP even further ahead of Labour than the last YouGov poll at the beginning of the month.
“The SNP are the only party to move forward in both Holyrood and Westminster ratings.
“For a Westminster election, the SNP are within touching distance of Labour for the first time in a generation – with the ability to win a barrow load of seats in what could be a tight parliamentary situation.
"We are aiming for 20 seats, and the SNP could well hold the balance of power at Westminster after the General Election – which would mean that the areas where the UK government is currently saying No to Scotland would quickly change to Yes.
“On independence, if you ask a straight question - unlike in the Telegraph poll - then you will get a straight answer.
"The most recent poll to ask the question as it would be put in a referendum showed support for independence for Scotland moving ahead of the status quo – advancing by 16 points since last summer.
“In opposing a referendum – even one that includes the option of more powers – the London-based parties are appealing to a small minority of people, and are deeply split on the issue.
"They will find it impossible to justify refusing to support the right of the people to decide Scotland’s future in a democratic referendum.”
ENDS
Note 1:
The YouGov poll details:
* Scottish Parliament constituency vote (change since 2007 in brackets)
SNP: 36% (+3)
Lab: 31% (-1)
Con: 13% (-4)
Lib: 15% (-1)
Oth: 4%
* Scottish Parliament regional vote (change since 2007 in brackets)
SNP: 37% (+6)
Lab: 28% (-1)
Con: 13% (-1)
Lib: 13% (+2)
Oth: 9%
* Holyrood seats projection:
SNP: 51 (+4)
Lab: 45 (-1)
Con: 16 (-1)
Lib: 16 (-)
Oth: 1 (-2)
* Westminster General Election (change since 2005 in brackets)
SNP: 30% (+12)
Lab: 34% (-6)
Con: 17% (+1)
Lib: 14% (-9)
Oth: 6%
Alex Salmond’s approval ratings as First Minister were twice the proportion of Gordon Brown’s as Prime Minister - 53% to 26% - compared to negative ratings of a third to two thirds (63%) respectively.
Only 21% thought Wendy Alexander is doing a good job, compared to a massive 60% who do not.
Note: 2
The TNS System Three poll published in the Sunday Herald on 13 April reflects the proposed question for an independence referendum that the Scottish Government contains in the National Conversation White Paper on Scotland's future.
TNS System Three have asked the same question twice previously, with support for independence moving forward from a 15 point deficit last August to being ahead for the first time since last year's Scottish Parliament election now. The poll was sampled between 26 March and 4 April.
Agree or disagree to Scottish independence (changes since last August in brackets)
* April 2008
Agree: 41% (+6)
Disagree: 40% (-10)
Don't know: 19% (+4)
* November 2007
Agree: 40%
Disagree: 44%
Don't Know: 16%
* August 2007
Agree: 35%
Disagree: 50%
Don't Know: 15%
* On 10 April, a Progressive Scottish Opinion/Daily Mail poll asked if people approve or disapprove of Scotland becoming an independent country.
It also showed a surge in support for independence from last summer. The changes since the last identical poll in the Daily Mail (published in August 2007) are in brackets.
Yes: 41% (+10)
No: 43% (-6)
Don't know: 16% (-4)
“We are delighted with these poll figures. The growing SNP lead shows that the honeymoon continues a year into government, on the back of solid policy delivery.
"The poll shows the SNP winning more votes and more seats since last May, with sensational approval ratings for Alex Salmond, and a significantly increased lead over Labour and the other parties.
"This YouGov poll puts the SNP even further ahead of Labour than the last YouGov poll at the beginning of the month.
“The SNP are the only party to move forward in both Holyrood and Westminster ratings.
“For a Westminster election, the SNP are within touching distance of Labour for the first time in a generation – with the ability to win a barrow load of seats in what could be a tight parliamentary situation.
"We are aiming for 20 seats, and the SNP could well hold the balance of power at Westminster after the General Election – which would mean that the areas where the UK government is currently saying No to Scotland would quickly change to Yes.
“On independence, if you ask a straight question - unlike in the Telegraph poll - then you will get a straight answer.
"The most recent poll to ask the question as it would be put in a referendum showed support for independence for Scotland moving ahead of the status quo – advancing by 16 points since last summer.
“In opposing a referendum – even one that includes the option of more powers – the London-based parties are appealing to a small minority of people, and are deeply split on the issue.
"They will find it impossible to justify refusing to support the right of the people to decide Scotland’s future in a democratic referendum.”
ENDS
Note 1:
The YouGov poll details:
* Scottish Parliament constituency vote (change since 2007 in brackets)
SNP: 36% (+3)
Lab: 31% (-1)
Con: 13% (-4)
Lib: 15% (-1)
Oth: 4%
* Scottish Parliament regional vote (change since 2007 in brackets)
SNP: 37% (+6)
Lab: 28% (-1)
Con: 13% (-1)
Lib: 13% (+2)
Oth: 9%
* Holyrood seats projection:
SNP: 51 (+4)
Lab: 45 (-1)
Con: 16 (-1)
Lib: 16 (-)
Oth: 1 (-2)
* Westminster General Election (change since 2005 in brackets)
SNP: 30% (+12)
Lab: 34% (-6)
Con: 17% (+1)
Lib: 14% (-9)
Oth: 6%
Alex Salmond’s approval ratings as First Minister were twice the proportion of Gordon Brown’s as Prime Minister - 53% to 26% - compared to negative ratings of a third to two thirds (63%) respectively.
Only 21% thought Wendy Alexander is doing a good job, compared to a massive 60% who do not.
Note: 2
The TNS System Three poll published in the Sunday Herald on 13 April reflects the proposed question for an independence referendum that the Scottish Government contains in the National Conversation White Paper on Scotland's future.
TNS System Three have asked the same question twice previously, with support for independence moving forward from a 15 point deficit last August to being ahead for the first time since last year's Scottish Parliament election now. The poll was sampled between 26 March and 4 April.
Agree or disagree to Scottish independence (changes since last August in brackets)
* April 2008
Agree: 41% (+6)
Disagree: 40% (-10)
Don't know: 19% (+4)
* November 2007
Agree: 40%
Disagree: 44%
Don't Know: 16%
* August 2007
Agree: 35%
Disagree: 50%
Don't Know: 15%
* On 10 April, a Progressive Scottish Opinion/Daily Mail poll asked if people approve or disapprove of Scotland becoming an independent country.
It also showed a surge in support for independence from last summer. The changes since the last identical poll in the Daily Mail (published in August 2007) are in brackets.
Yes: 41% (+10)
No: 43% (-6)
Don't know: 16% (-4)
Related news articles
- Independence neck & neck in new poll (2008-07-06 17:06)
- Business backing for Independence grows (2008-05-02 8:49)
