Little sign of recovery in polls for Scottish Labour but Lib Dem tumble continues

Labour’s prospects of making gains in the Scottish Parliament showed no sign of improvement in polling published today.

Scottish Labour have slipped back one point to 15 per cent support in Holyrood voting intention, according to a Times/YouGov survey, which also showed a slight uptick in Jeremy Corbyn’s popularity.

Were an election for the Scottish parliament to be held tomorrow, the SNP could expect 48 per cent support, and the Tories 25 per cent. The SNP have slipped back four points with the Tories gaining four points, and Scottish Labour losing one per cent of support compared to August.

The Lib Dems have gained one point, rising to six per cent support and UKIP have lost one point – with now only one per cent of Scots backing them.

Scottish independence still does not command majority support according to the polling, with 38 per cent saying they would back going it alone, down two points from August, and 49 per cent saying they would stay part of Britain, up three points.

Neither does a second independence referendum before Britain leaves the EU hold much popularity – 54 per cent would oppose this and only 35 per cent supporting it. Support for such a referendum is down two per cent, and opposition up four points from August.

Nicola Sturgeon and Ruth Davidson remain significantly more popular than Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale, with half of Scots thinking the first minister is doing well, and just under half – 49 per cent – thinking the same of the Davidson, leads of the Scottish Tories.

Only 23 per cent of people believe Dugdale she is doing well, with 44 per cent thinking she is doing a bad job – but she has been credited with bringing stability to Scottish Labour after years of turmoil and has been an outspoken critic of Tory chaos over Brexit, alongside Carwyn Jones, Welsh first minister.

Scottish voter’s opinions on the UK-wide party leaders was also canvassed, with support for Theresa May  at 35 per cent, no change from August, but 40 per cent of Scots now believing she is doing badly, up 18 points from August.

Corbyn’s popularity in Scotland has increased slightly, to 20 per cent, with two per cent more people believing he is doing a good job than in August. However, more than half – 55 per cent – still think he is doing badly, down five per cent.

You can see the full results of the YouGov/Times polling here.