Ayr by-election 2000

'The SNP will be fighting the Ayr by-election to win. We begin with a higher base of support than we had in Hamilton South, and with a far narrower gap between us and Labour, who will be struggling.' SNP Leader Alex Salmond, MP MSP, 8 th January 2000.

Ayr Is Winnable For SNP - SNP Gain In Herald / System Three Poll

From the Scottish National Party

Commenting on the System Three opinion poll in the Herald newspaper today which shows Scottish National Party support up four points in the first-past-the-post Scottish Parliament vote to 34%, up three points in the list vote to 33% (the only party to advance on both questions), and gaining three points for a< westminster election snp deputy leader mr john swinney msp said it showed that the ayr by-election was winnable for the snp:

"This poll shows that SNP support is solid, and moving in an upwards direction. The gap between the SNP and Labour has fallen to just nine points in the first-past-the-post vote, and only four points in the list ballot, while support for the Tories and Lib Dems is at rock bottom.

"The SNP are in an extremely strong position for the Ayr by-election, which we will be fighting to win.

"Labour have substantial problems in Ayr, and this poll shows that their support is faltering.

"The Tories are in a far weaker position now than they were prior to the Scottish Parliament election last May, when they failed to win the Ayr seat. Following on from Phil Gallie's decision not to stand, this poll is further evidence that the Tories can't win in Ayr.

"The regional list vote in the Ayr constituency last May put Labour on 32.1%, the Tories on 30.9%, and the SNP on 22.6% - in other words, all within ten points of each other.

"The movement at national level towards the SNP highlighted in this poll indicates that Ayr is winnable for the SNP, and we will be campaigning on that positive basis."