Ukip heads for election breakthrough

UKIP is on course for a stunning breakthrough at the Holyrood election.

The Survation poll puts the anti-EU party on 6 per cent in the regional list – enough to result in seven MSPs in the Scottish parliament, up from none.

According to the ScotlandVotes.com seat predictor, Ukip would end up as the fifth largest party in this scenario – behind the Greens with nine MSPs, but ahead of the Lib Dems on six.

Most previous surveys have suggested Ukip is much further behind and it is thought the latest results could be due to the rising prominence of the EU referendum debate in the media.

The SNP remains comfortably in the lead, according to Survation’s study, despite a series of high-profile policy announcements from Labour.

Fifty-four per cent of Scots are set to back the SNP on May 6 with their constituency vote, with 43 per cent intending to vote for the party on the regional list.

Labour trails behind on 21 per cent and 19 per cent respectively, with the Tories on 16 per cent and 14 per cent.

The poll found that 3 per cent of Scots would be less likely to back the Tories with their regional vote if it would help them overtake Labour and become the main opposition party, compared to only 12 per cent who would be more likely.

Ukip’s Scottish leader, MEP David Coburn, said: ‘Scots want Ukip to shake up Holyrood’s nodding dog parliamentary parties.

‘Ukip’s libertarian free speech agenda appeals to young Scots sick of an authoritarian SNP state with its limitation of free expression and Named Persons Act.’