Labour voters move to SNP
ANGRY: BUT THEY WANT UK TO STAY TOGETHER
Shift in loyalties may frustrate Miliband’s hopes of defeating Cameron.
Shirleen Barrowman is one of a growing band of Scots who support the United Kingdom and yet plan to vote in next week’s general election for the party dedicated to breaking up Britain.
Such is their anger with the London-based political elite and the Labour Party, in particular, they will back the Scottish National Party (SNP) on May 7, even though they rejected independence in last year’s referendum.
This apparent confl ict of loyalties offers the secessionist SNP an opportunity to reach the heart of British power and may frustrate Labour leader Ed Miliband’s hopes of defeating Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron.
Barrowman, a 42-year-old personal assistant, is typical of the disillusioned Scots who are turning their backs on Labour, the party that dominated Scottish politics for decades. “I believe the union should stay together,” Barrowman said in Glasgow, Scotland’s biggest city.
“I voted Labour all my life and I’m thinking Labour hasn’t actually done anything for me at all. At the forefront of my mind, it’s what party can help me at the moment? I think that’s the SNP.”
Voting figures show how the SNP has persuaded some Scots who rejected independence on September 18 that it is the party that can best defend Scottish interests in the Westminster parliament.
While 44.7% voted for independence in the referendum, a YouGov poll has shown SNP support now at 49% while another from TNS put it at 54%.
The centre-left Labour languished on 25 and 22% respectively in the polls.
“There are a group of people who voted no last year who will vote SNP this time and they will predominantly be ex-Labour voters,” said Mark Diffley, director of Ipsos MORI Scotland. – Reuters