 | 'Following Jack McConnell's appalling performance in the STV debate last night, Labour's negative campaign is in deep crisis.' SNP Campaign Manager Angus Robertson MP, 2 nd April 2007. |  |
| 'Following Jack McConnell's appalling performance in the STV debate last night, Labour's negative campaign is in deep crisis.' SNP Campaign Manager Angus Robertson MP, 2 nd April 2007. | |
The Scottish National Party today [Monday] published the results of a YouGov poll commissioned by the Party, which gives the SNP a 9-point lead on the constituency question, and a 7 point lead on the regional list vote.
However, the SNP lead on the list vote increases by 4 points to 11 per cent (excluding don't know/won't vote) when the following question is put: "This regional list vote will determine the overall balance of party representation in the Scottish Parliament and decide who is the next First Minister. Taking this into consideration, how would you vote?"
SNP Campaign Manager Mr Angus Robertson MP said:
"This is more good news for the SNP and our positive campaign the 9th poll to give us a clear lead. Following Jack McConnell's appalling performance in the STV debate last night, Labour's negative campaign is in deep crisis.
"Significantly, this poll shows that the strength of Alex Salmond's appeal increases the SNP's lead by 4 points. We are taking nothing for granted, but the trend of the polls is extremely encouraging."
ENDS
Notes:
YouGov poll for the SNP, fieldwork 27-30 March, sample 1,064
The constituency vote (excl don't know, won't vote)
SNP 36
Lab 27
Lib 16
Con 13
Oth 8
Regional list vote (excl don't know, won't vote)
SNP 33
Lab 26
Con 14
Lib 14
Gre 7
SSP 3
Sol 1
Oth 3
The SNP today (Monday) published new details of a poll carried out by YouGov which shows that the vast majority of Scots do not trust the Conservative Party to be their voice in Scottish Parliament.
The results of the poll have emerged on the day the Conservatives announced their manifesto for the Scottish Parliament election, with the slogan "Your Voice in Parliament".
In the poll, 1064 Scots were asked:
Do you trust the Conservative Party to be your voice in the Scottish Parliament?
16 percent Yes
68 percent - No
15 Percent - Don't know
Even among Tory voters, 6% of Tory voters don't trust them to be "your voice in the Parliament", and 5% don't know. So 1 in 10 Tory voters don't support the Tories' central message!
Speaking as the Party released the figures, the SNP's Business Convener Bruce Crawford said:
"The Tories have raised their voice against Scotland's interests for years, so it's no wonder people don't trust them in our Parliament. Scots have long memories, and remember the damage they did to our economy and society during 18 long years of Tory government in London.
"The Tories are the only party going into this election opposing progress for Scotland by stating their intention to do a deal with Labour and vote for Mr McConnell as first minister.
"Scots want fresh thinking and new ideas in the new Scottish Parliament, not the same old tired ideas from the anti-Scottish Tories."
Notes:
YouGov poll commissioned by the SNP, fieldwork 27-30 March, sample 1,064.
SNP Leader Alex Salmond MP today (Monday) reached out to Scotland's older people with a pledge to abolish the unfair Council Tax while on a campaign visit to Falkirk today. The SNP Leader used the visit to publish a new poll which shows that by a margin of 71% to 16% Scots want to abolish the unfair council tax.
The new poll from YouGov, commissioned by the SNP, shows that when asked to agree with the following statement:
"The council tax should be replaced by a local income tax, based on the ability to pay"
41% strongly agreed
30% agreed
11% disagreed
5% strongly disagreed
The proposals were also supported by a clear majority of Labour and Conservative voters.
Mr Salmond also used the visit to highlight the benefits of abolishing the unfair council tax for older Scots, replacing it with a fairer system, based on the ability to pay. This will reduce the burden of local tax on 90% of Scottish pensioners, who will pay either nothing under the SNP's Local Income Tax system, or less than they do now under the system of Council Tax.
Mr Salmond said:
"The Council Tax is an unfair tax. It causes particular difficulty for Scottish pensioners. There is no doubt it is time to scrap the Council Tax and replace it with a fairer system based on ability to pay.
"There is a clear mood across Scotland to abolish the Council Tax. The latest opinion survey tells us that 71% of Scots agree that Council Tax is the wrong way to fund local services, including a majority of Labour and Conservative voters.
"The SNP has heard the concerns of people across Scotland and that is why we will deliver a fairer system. These results should be of great concern to Labour and Tories who are united in their support of the unfair Council Tax.
"They clearly do not understand that most of us want fairer local tax. Labour and the Tories are speaking for fewer and fewer Scots.
"In Scotland around 1 in 5 pensioners live in poverty. That figure is the same today as it was when the Labour government took office in 1997.
"That's why an SNP government will cut local tax bills so pensioners and families have more money in their pockets at the end of every month.
"With this fairer system 90% of Scottish pensioners will pay less.
"It's time for fresh thinking and a fair deal for Scotland's pensioners.
"It's time to scrap the Council Tax."
v
ENDS
YouGov poll commissioned by the SNP, fieldwork 27-30 March, sample 1,064. The question asked was:
"The council tax should be replaced by a local income tax, based on the ability to pay"
32% of Labour voters strongly agreed
28% of Labour voters agreed
16% of Labour voters disagreed
8% of Labour voters strongly disagreed
32% of Conservative voters strongly agreed
29% of Conservative voters agreed
14% of Conservative voters disagreed
15% of Conservative voters strongly disagreed
Gordon Brown and Tony Blair will jointly set out the economic case against Nationalism today, but will face growing anger over their tax raid on pensions.
The Chancellor and Prime Minister are making their first joint appearance with First Minister Jack McConnell to emphasise the importance of the election to Labour, and to stress the campaign theme of education and skills.
A Labour spokesman said that Mr McConnell, the Prime Minister and the Chancellor will today highlight the risk of independence, contrasted with "Labour's positive policies for securing economic growth by investing in skills, reforming education and providing practical support to businesses".
The party wants to focus on plans to invest in science and modern languages, increase vocational skills, and keep young people in education and training for longer.
Labour also seized on claims from property experts that independence could lead to a massive market crash. Greenock candidate Duncan McNeil said: "Alex Salmond's plans to gamble Scotland's economy and Scotland's future could cost Scottish families, with high tax and massive economic uncertainty."
However, there was continuing good news in polls for the SNP. A YouGov survey commissioned by the party was the tenth poll out of 11 this year to show a clear SNP lead over Labour, this time with a nine-point gap on constituency voting intentions, by 36% to 27%. LibDems were on 16% and Tories on 13%.
Conservatives launched their manifesto yesterday, with plans to shift £913m of spending to priority areas, much of that coming from cutting the Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands budget. They also set out plans to scrap NHS24 out-of-hours service and to allow patient choice in hospital procedures, even if that meant some units closing.
Today's campaigning will also focus on the Scottish Greens, who launch their manifesto with hopes of playing a role in government after May 3. Campaign director Mark Ruskell said: "We have a history of success in both heavy engineering and hi-tech industries, and both will have a crucial role to play, especially in the development of renewables."
SCOTS don't trust the Conservatives to represent them in Holyrood, according to a new poll.
Only 16 per cent of voters believe the Tories are capable of being "their voice" in the Scottish parliament.
More than two thirds - 68 per cent - said they did not trust them, while 15 per cent said they didn't know.
The Tories are campaigning under the slogan "Your voice in the Scottish parliament".
The findings were from a YouGov poll commissioned by the SNP. More than 1000 people were quizzed.
It found only 12 per cent of Daily Record readers trust the Tories.
Incredibly, six per cent of Tory voters said they did not trust their own party to represent them.
An SNP spokesman said: "Scots have long memories, and remember the damage they did to our economy and society during 18 years of government in London."
The Tories will launch their manifesto in Galashiels today.
The Scottish Conservatives have unveiled their manifesto ahead of the forthcoming Scottish parliament election.
However, their policy pledges, billed as the most family-friendly of any party campaigning in Scotland, have been overshadowed by the increasing poll lead of the SNP over Scottish Labour.
And the Scottish manifesto launch lacked the scale of events in Wales, where the shadow cabinet joined with Welsh assembly members to champion the party ahead of May's vote.
Launching the Standing up for families manifesto north of the border, Scottish Conservative leader Annabel Goldie said the party was offering the most comprehensive set of family-friendly policies of all candidates.
"The family is the most important institution in Scotland," she said. "Families teach Scotland's children how to be good members of society, encourage them to be socially responsible and self-sufficient, and show them how to raise their own families in the future.
"In short, families provide us with our direction and our stability, and teach us right from wrong," Ms Goldie continued.
Commitments outlined in Standing up for families include more choice over nursery education, help for families to access childcare and support for school buses.
The Conservatives also promise no road tolls or local income taxes, as well as faster and better healthcare, including access to dental treatment.
Ms Goldie pledged: "Scottish Conservatives will stand up for families by helping them with their childcare, healthcare and wealthcare.
"We'll encourage parents to have more choice over who cares for their children, support local health and dental services, and ensure that families have more money in their pockets."
The latest opinion polls, however, show sparse support for the Conservatives. A YouGov poll commissioned by the SNP found more than two-thirds of voters do not trust the Tories while only 16 per cent of voters trust them to represent their voice in Holyrood.
Labour have also reportedly been alarmed by recent polls, with the party on course to lose votes among its traditional supporters.
The latest opinion polls suggest the Scottish National Party could edge Labour out of government and form an alliance with the Liberal Democrats to govern the Scottish parliament.
The SNP are poised to double their representation and take up 51 of Holyrood's 129 seats. Labour are tipped to lose support and emerge with just 44 seats, down from 50 currently.
Labour have formed a coalition government with the Liberal Democrats since devolution in 1999 but are now thought to be suffering from declining popularity at the national level.
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