MORI POLL SHOW GENERAL ELECTION "REDOLENT WITH OPPORTUNITY FOR SCOTLAND"

MORI POLL SHOW GENERAL ELECTION "REDOLENT WITH OPPORTUNITY FOR SCOTLAND"

SNP MPs CAN WIN FOR SCOTLAND IN HUNG PARLIAMENT

The Scottish National Party hailed the Ipsos MORI poll today - putting the
SNP and Labour neck and neck for UK General Election voting intentions and
7 points ahead for Holyrood - and said the coming General Election was
full of opportunity for Scotland, in light of the increasing possibility
of a hung parliament.

SNP MP and Westminster leader Angus Robertson said:

"This is a breakthrough poll for the SNP, putting us far and away in our
strongest ever position going into a UK General Election - neck and neck
with Labour for Westminster, and 7 points ahead for Holyrood.

"Before the 2005 General election, the same polling organisation put the
SNP at just 13 per cent, and we added 5 points to that in the election
campaign itself.

"This time round, we are already at 32 per cent - with a current
projection of 11 seats - and the lesson of the last election is that we
can strengthen that fantastic position further in the campaign itself.

"The election in Scotland - a two-horse race between the SNP and Labour -
is now absolutely wide open.

"With the real possibility of a hung or balanced parliament at
Westminster, the situation is redolent with opportunity for Scotland and
the SNP.

"In that scenario, working on a case by case, day by day basis along with
our Plaid Cymru partners - we can secure vital gains for Scotland,
regardless of whether the next UK Government is Labour or Tory.

"To take just one Scottish priority, we can free Scotland's £170 million
Fossil Fuel Levy from the grip of Treasury control, to invest in boosting
renewable energy projects.

"The SNP are on the front foot, with record pre-election poll ratings, and
SNP MPs will be champions who can win for Scotland."