Boost for Starmer as party set to take 22 seats from SNP

LABOUR is on course to take more than 20 Scottish seats from the SNP in a revival that could propel Sir Keir Starmer into Downing Street, research suggests.

The Yougov projections, using the same statistical model that successfully forecast the results of the 2017 and 2019 general elections, found that Labour would regain many former central belt strongholds held by the nationalists since their 2015 landslide.

The party would gain six of Glasgow’s seven Westminster seats, helping to increase its overall Scottish tally to 23, from one currently.

Meanwhile, the SNP would win 27 Scottish seats, down from the 48 it won in 2019, according to the forecast.

Such a result would prove a boost to Sir Keir’s chances of becoming the next prime minister, experts said, and lead to questions over the future of Humza Yousaf, the SNP leader.

It is the latest poll to suggest that Nicola Sturgeon’s resignation, coupled with a police investigation into SNP finances in which her home was raided and husband arrested, has caused support for her party to plummet.

Patrick English, of Yougov, said the findings would provide “strong encouragement to Labour”. The modelling was based on responses of more than 3,500 Scottish adults, under the MRP model which is designed to give more accurate results than traditional polling.

“The results of Yougov’s Scottish MRP shows the SNP have some serious cause for concern, but will provide strong encouragement to Labour as they look ahead to the next general election,” Mr English said.

“Making significant gains in Scotland could be crucial to Starmer’s chances of heading into No 10 with a parliamentary majority next year, and these figures suggest his party is now making strong progress north of the border.”