Poll points to a pro-indy majority but without SNP in overall control
A POLL has suggested the SNP could miss out on overall control of Holyrood – but a pro-independence majority of MSPS would still be elected thanks to the support of the Greens.
A Savanta Comres survey for The Scotsman predicted Nicola Sturgeon’s party will return 63 MSPS – two short of a majority and the same number as in 2016.
But the study found there would still be a pro-independence majority at Holyrood, with the Scottish Greens forecast to return eight MSPS, two more than in 2016, and secure 7 per cent of the list vote.
Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie said “challenging issues” remained between the SNP and his party and that any coalition would be the decision for party members.
The poll suggests the Conservatives will achieve 25% of the constituency vote and 23% of the regional list, which would see it return 32 MSPS – one more than in 2016.
A spokesman for the Tories said the poll showed “only the Scottish Conservatives have the strength all over Scotland to stand up to the SNP, stop their plan for another divisive referendum and get all of the focus back onto rebuilding Scotland”.
Scottish Labour is forecast to return 20% on the constituency and 17% on the list vote and is predicted to return 21 MSPS, three fewer than in 2016.
The Scottish Liberal Democrats are predicted to return five MSPS, the same number as in 2016.
Only 1% of voters said they plan to vote for Alex Salmond’s Alba Party, which would leave it without a single MSP, including the former first minister who is hoping to make a comeback.
The blow to Mr Salmond’s chances came as he accused the BBC of a “virtual blackout” of its coverage of the Alba Party.
The former first minister spoke ahead of Ofcom’s election committee meeting today to investigate the Alba Party’s complaint against the BBC’S coverage – as is the watchdog’s routine process.
Mr Salmond has now claimed even when his party has been featured in coverage, “the tone of the interviews has been unremittingly hostile”, adding a claim the BBC’S “official house style” is to “denigrate Alba and the quest for Scottish independence”.
The row escalated after an appearance by Mr Salmond on BBC Scotland’s The Nine.
The former first minister was pressed over behaviour he admitted to during his criminal trial when he was acquitted of all charges, which while not criminal has led his political rivals to question his suitability to hold public office.
Appearing on the The Nine, Mr Salmond was pressed about the concerns raised about his suitability to become an MSP.
The BBC’S Rebecca Curran said: “You want voters to judge you, to decide, so what are they voting for?
“Are they voting for a man who thinks it’s okay to go to bed for what you described yourself as a ‘sleepy cuddle’ with a staff member half your age in the first minister’s residence, or are they voting for a man who thinks that is not okay?”
But Mr Salmond responded to questions over his behaviour by pointing to his acquittal of all criminal charges, stressing that “most fairminded people in Scotland believe once a jury as decided, the case is over”.
Mr Salmond has praised Ofcom for investigating his complaints against the BBC quickly.
He said: “The exclusion of Alba from the leadership election debates is deplorable but even worse is the blackout from the news on a daily basis.
“On the odd occasion when they deign to interview Alba representatives, the tone of the interviews has been unremittingly hostile.”
Mr Salmond stressed that “aggressive questioning is perfectly acceptable if part of a range of coverage” but warned “inaccurate smearing is quite another when it dominates the few interviews BBC apparatchiks deign to grant Alba”.
An Ofcom spokesperson said: “We can confirm we have received a formal complaint which we are carefully reviewing.”
A BBC spokesperson added: “We believe that, to date, we have provided the Alba Party with appropriate and proportionate coverage. We have supplied Ofcom with information on our coverage ahead of the meeting of their election committee.”
The exclusion of Alba from the leadership election debates is deplorable