Labour overtake the SNP in latest Westminster voting poll

Scottish Labour has pulled ahead of the SNP in Westminster voting intentions and the parties are neck-and-neck in the Holyrood constituency vote, according to the latest opinion poll.

It is first poll to be conducted since it became clear John Swinney would be the next SNP leader and First Minister, replacing Humza Yousaf.

The Savanta poll for The Scotsman saw 1,080 Scottish adults interviewed online between May 3 and May 8.

Kate Forbes, who was seen as Mr Swinney’s main potential rival for the leadership within the SNP MSP group, announced she would not run against him on May 2.

For the Westminster vote, the poll puts Labour on 37%, the SNP on 33%, the Conservatives on 17%, the Liberal Democrats on 7% and “other” on 6%.

Savanta said it is its first poll showing a Labour lead over the SNP in Westminster voting intentions. It said that according to the seat modelling site Electoral Calculus, the results, if replicated at a general election, would see 29 Labour MPs elected in Scotland.

For the Holyrood constituency vote, the poll puts Labour and the SNP tied on 35%.

Anas Sarwar’s Scottish Labour is ahead in the Holyrood list vote – at 32% compared to the SNP's 26%.

Chris Hopkins, who is the political research director at Savanta, said: “Our findings really do underline the major uphill task that John Swinney faces as the new First Minister.”