Off the wire
• 1st LD: 7.1 magnitude quake hits central Indonesia  • Finnish president underlines need to understand Russia  • Xinhua Insight: China to answer key questions at March meetings (2)  • German inflation back above zero in Feb.  • Japan, Poland to deepen ties on energy, security  • Latvian reserve officers to be called up for training in autumn  • Top UN Afghan envoy arrives in Pakistan amid reports of Taliban peace talks  • Xinhua Insight: China to answer key questions at March meetings (1)  • Death toll of swine flu rises to 965 in India  • Urgent: 7.1 magnitude quake hits central Indonesia  
You are here: 　 Home

Support for Scottish nationalists rising prior to British general election: poll

Xinhua, February 27, 2015 Adjust font size:

Support for the Scottish National Party (SNP) rose to 46 percent in a poll just over two months before the British general election in May, the local media reported on Friday.

The SNP support rose by five percentage points from its 41 percent in the same TNS poll earlier this month, against the Scottish Labor's 30 percent support in the current poll published on Thursday, reported the online Scotsman newspaper.

The Scottish Conservatives' support were 14 percent, against both Liberal Democrats and Nigel Farage's anti-EU party UKIP (United Kingdom Independent Party)'s 3 percent, and the Scottish Greens' 4 percent.

Welcoming the poll, SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson said: "This poll shows an increased lead for the SNP - but we are taking absolutely nothing for granted, and will work hard for every vote and seat in May."

"The key issue in May is who will best represent the people of Scotland - and the General Election is a wonderful opportunity for Scotland to have power by electing a strong team of SNP MPs (member of parliaments) to a hung parliament at Westminster," he was quoted as saying.

Among the current total 59 seats for Scotland at Westminster elected in last general election in 2010, Labor holds 41, against the Conservatives' one, the Liberal Democrats's 11 and the SNP's six.

The SNP is predicated to win 43 seats, against Scottish Labor's 16 in the upcoming British general election to be held on May 7.

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon previously ruled out any deal with the Conservatives but said the SNP could work with a minority Labor government on an informal basis rather than a coalition.

Former Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond, who resigned after the Scottish independence referendum on Sept. 18, 2014 when the majority opted to stay in Britain, intends to make a return to Westminster by competing the seat of Gordon in Aberdeenshire in northeast Scotland.

The constituency is currently represented by British Liberal Democrats Deputy leader Malcolm Bruce, who announced in September 2013 that he would not seek re-election as an MP at the 2015 General Election.

From 1987 to 2010, Salmond served as Member of Parliament for Banff and Buchan in the House of Commons at Westminster. Endit