Tories on course to DOUBLE vote

Party to win 8 seats, with Ruth Davidson now more popular than First Minister

THE Scottish Conservatives are set to double their vote and win eight seats in June’s General Election, according to a new poll.

It would be the party’s best performance in a quarter of a century.

A YouGov poll published yesterday put the Tories on course for electoral success north of the Border.

It also revealed that Ruth Davidson is now significantly more popular than Nicola Sturgeon among Scots.

If the poll is an accurate reflection of how Scots vote in June, it could mean SNP deputy leader Angus Robertson and Scottish Affairs Committee chairman Pete Wishart would be among seven Nationalist MPs who would lose their seats to the Tories – and another two would fall to the Liberal Democrats.

In another blow for the SNP, the poll also revealed that 51 per cent of Scots think there should not be another independence referendum, while 42 per cent think there should be – and if there was a vote, then the No campaign would still have a commanding 55-45 lead.

Scottish Conservative leader Miss Davidson said: ‘This poll reveals Theresa May is more in touch with people in Scotland than Nicola Sturgeon.

‘Last month, Alex Salmond, Angus Robertson and Nicola Sturgeon all arrogantly declared that opposing a second referendum would stoke support for independence.

‘In fact, most people in Scotland see the common sense in saying now is not the time for yet another divisive referendum campaign. The SNP should show some humility and take its unwanted plan for a referendum off the table immediately.’

The poll found 41 per cent of Scots intend to vote SNP at the General Election – down nine percentage points on 2015 – while 28 per cent plan to vote Conservative, which is up 13 points.

Scottish Labour is facing the prospect of an even worse performance than its near wipeout in 2015, with its vote set to fall six points to 18 per cent – although it would manage to hold its only seat in Edinburgh South. The Lib Dems are on 7 per cent, which could see them win three seats.

Asked about their perceptions of political leaders, 47 per cent said Miss Davidson is doing well, while 29 per cent said she is doing badly, giving her an approval rating of +18. This compares to +2 for Miss Sturgeon, with 47 per cent of voters thinking she is doing well but 45 per cent saying she is doing badly.

Eight seats would be the highest Tory return in Scotland since 1992, when the party won 11 – but they were all wiped out in the 1997 general election.

Focusing on the timing of any future independence referendum under the proposed SNP timetable, 37 per cent said they want one after Brexit negotiations conclude but before Britain leaves the EU, while 49 per cent said they did not want a referendum at that time.

Asked if they wanted a referendum after the UK has left the EU, 48 per cent said no and 35 per cent said yes.

Scottish Labour General Election campaign manager James Kelly said: ‘This is yet another poll that shows people in Scotland do not want another divisive referendum and they don’t want to leave the UK. It’s time for the Nationalists to focus on the job of governing – like dealing with the crisis in our schools and tackling the problems in the NHS after a decade of SNP mismanagement.

‘Voters can send a message to Nicola Sturgeon that Scotland is divided enough, we don’t need any more division.

‘When people go to the polls for the council elections on May 4 and the General Election on June 8, they can vote Labour to elect a local champion or they can vote SNP to elect a candidate who will only focus on another divisive referendum.’

Finance Secretary Derek Mackay said: ‘Today’s polls show that now, more than ever, it is only the SNP who can win against an out-of-control Tory Party under Theresa May.

‘A Tory vote in this election will do real harm to households in Scotland, with more cuts to public spending, cuts to household budgets and no protection for pensioners.

‘A vote for the SNP and electing SNP MPs in June is the only way to give Scotland a strong voice against the Tories and underline the right of the Scottish parliament to determine Scotland’s future.’

More than 1,000 people took part in the survey between April 24 and 27.

Comment – Page 18

‘Show some humility’