The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Tories predicted to suffer heavy losses
A new poll has suggested the Tories could be set for heavy losses in Scotland in the event of a snap election.
The YouGov poll for The Times in Scotland also found more Scots than not want Indyref2 in the next five years.
Support for Scotland leaving the United Kingdom was put at 49%, with 51% opposed.
Just 20% of those surveyed said they would vote for the Conservatives in a Westminster election, down from the 28.6% they polled in 2017.
That strong showing by the Tories – at the time led by Ruth Davidson – resulted in the party winning 13 seats north of the border, helping keep Theresa May in Downing Street.
Polling expert Professor Sir John Curtice said some of those seats could be lost, adding that the SNP could win more than 50 of the 59 constituencies north of the border, with 43% of respondents saying they will vote SNP in a general election.
With Labour polling at 15%, the Lib Dems on 12% and the Brexit Party and Greens on 6% and 4%, respectively, it is thought the Tories could be reduced to three seats.
Meanwhile, 45% of Scots now support having another referendum on independence in the next five years, with 44% opposed to such a move and 11% undecided.
With 49% favouring leaving the UK, Sir John said the poll confirmed the suggestion “public opinion on independence has shifted”.
On Tuesday, Ms Sturgeon confirmed she will demand the power for Scotland to have a second legally-binding independence referendum before the next Holyrood election in 2021.
SNP deputy leader Keith Brown welcomed the findings of the “poll, which underlines the strength of opposition to Brexit in Scotland and the increasing support for Scotland having the right to choose our own future amidst the Westminster chaos”.
He added: “Scotland has been completely ignored throughout the Brexit process.
“The people of Scotland deserve the right to choose our own future – instead of having it dictated to us by Westminster.”