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SNP ahead of Labour for first time

The SNP are riding high in ScotlandThe SNP are riding high in Scotland

Friday, 11, Jul 2008 12:00

The Scottish National party (SNP) have slipped ahead of Labour for the first time, in a worrying sign for Labour as the Glasgow East by-election approaches.

A YouGov poll for the Daily Telegraph shows the SNP ahead of Labour in voting intentions for a UK general election for the first time in the party's history.

The figures put the SNP on 33 per cent - up 15 per cent from their 2005 result – and Labour on 29 per cent, down 11 per cent.

Even the Conservatives – currently facing a political wasteland north of the border – enjoy a rise in support, up four to 20 per cent.

In a further headache for the ruling party, the poll also showed most Scots hoping for a Labour defeat at the Glasgow-East by-election.

Forty-nine per cent want the SNP candidate John Mason to win, while only 33 per cent want Labour's Margaret Curran to win.

SNP deputy leader Nicola Sturgeon jumped on the poll as evidence of the party's runaway success in Scotland.

"That is a massively encouraging finding, which will fuel the SNP's campaign and have Labour quaking in their boots," she said.

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Roy Gay, Cirencester: The SNP is the Party most likely to win the by-election in Glasgow and there is no doubt that many of the electorate North and South of the border are willling this to happen So much has already been written as to why so many of us detest this Government and want to see it die It all comes back to the lies of the so called New Labour now under the dreadful leadership of Brown and the pitiful Harman The diifculty in the result that we hope for is that the SNP will claim that such a win is proof that the people of Scotland believe in the SNP aspiations but the truth is they do not - they simply want to see the back of this administration It has to be said that the SNP will never recover if they fail to win and this is their problem. They know all too well that they must not let us down Is Salmond the man, the electorate of Glasgow will decide his future and that of Brown On the basis that the SNP do win - or should the Conservatives or Liberals achieve the result Brown has to go. Will he call an election or continue in office. In our hearts I think we all know the answer and that will lead to another politcal situation The longer the General Election is delayed the next UK Conservative government will win by a landslide of even greater proportions to that achieved by Brown and Co in 1997. This would be bad for democracy, a good strong government needs a majority of 30/40 and that will certainly concentrate the minds of Government to the benefit of us all

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