SNP majority ‘hangs in the balance’ as final polls paint inconsistent picture
Pollsters have said an SNP majority ‘hangs in the balance’ on Thursday (Russell Cheyne/PA)
The SNP is on course for an overall majority, a new poll suggests, as another claims it could lose up to six seats.
The final survey by Ipsos Mori for STV News projects Nicola Sturgeon’s party could take 68 seats, a majority of three, picking up 50% of the vote in constituencies and 39% in the regional list.
But 12% of the 1,502 people asked said they could still change their vote ahead of polls opening on Thursday.
Two of Scotland’s new high-profile political parties have emphasised strategy over popularity in their push for success.
The Alba Party, led by former first minister Alex Salmond, has urged independence supporters to back it with their list votes instead of the SNP.
Controversial figure George Galloway and his All for Unity party has urged unionists to unite and stop a second independence referendum.
A section of the All for Unity website breaks down each constituency in Scotland, instructing voters to cast their ballot for them in the regional list, while supporting the closest unionist challenger in each local constituency.
The Scottish Liberal Democrats’ campaign has been focused on depriving the SNP of a majority so Holyrood can focus on a Covid recovery rather than independence.
Party leader Willie Rennie has said he believes that an SNP failure to deliver a parliamentary majority at the election should mean the party “puts aside” its plans for another referendum for at least five years to instead focus on recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.
The message is very similar to that of Scottish Labour, which is also calling for a focus on recovery rather than a return to “divisions” over the constitution.
But Mr Rennie has argued that “Liberal Democrat seats are the ones that will make the difference” to depriving the nationalists of a majority and suggested that his party is on course to add to the five MSPs elected in 2016.
The Scottish Liberal Democrats’ campaign has been focused on depriving the SNP of a majority so Holyrood can focus on a Covid recovery rather than independence.
Party leader Willie Rennie has said he believes that an SNP failure to deliver a parliamentary majority at the election should mean the party “puts aside” its plans for another referendum for at least five years to instead focus on recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.
The message is very similar to that of Scottish Labour, which is also calling for a focus on recovery rather than a return to “divisions” over the constitution.
But Mr Rennie has argued that “Liberal Democrat seats are the ones that will make the difference” to depriving the nationalists of a majority and suggested that his party is on course to add to the five MSPs elected in 2016.
The Scottish Liberal Democrats’ campaign has been focused on depriving the SNP of a majority so Holyrood can focus on a Covid recovery rather than independence.
Party leader Willie Rennie has said he believes that an SNP failure to deliver a parliamentary majority at the election should mean the party “puts aside” its plans for another referendum for at least five years to instead focus on recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.
The message is very similar to that of Scottish Labour, which is also calling for a focus on recovery rather than a return to “divisions” over the constitution.
But Mr Rennie has argued that “Liberal Democrat seats are the ones that will make the difference” to depriving the nationalists of a majority and suggested that his party is on course to add to the five MSPs elected in 2016.