Scottish Nationalists are putting a brave face on the latest opinion poll showing Scottish Labour apparently winning the race for Westminster. The Times/Panelbase survey suggests that Labour is on course to return 26 Scottish seats at the next general election against the SNP’s 21. The nationalist are currently the third largest party in Westminster with 48 MPs, so this would be a shocking reversal of fortune. The survey was conducted between 12 and 15 June – just after Nicola Sturgeon had been arrested and released under Operation Branchform – the police investigation into irregularities in party funds and fundraising.
Ach, it’s not as bad as it looks, say the Nats. It’s only one poll, and blowback from Sturgeon’s arrest was expected. Humza Yousaf’s support is actually up by four points to, er, minus 12, even if Sturgeon’s has collapsed 38 points to minus 18. The SNP is still comfortably ahead of Labour in voting intentions for the Scottish Parliament.
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