POLL SHOWS SCOTTISH INDEPENDENCE REFERENDUM “THERE TO BE WON”.

POLL SHOWS SCOTTISH INDEPENDENCE REFERENDUM “THERE TO BE WON”.

SUPPORT MOVES AHEAD IN EUROPEAN CONTEXT.

New findings of a YouGov poll show that support for Scottish independence moves ahead when the question is put in the context of Scotland being “a member of the European Union in its own right”. In total, 42 per cent back that position, compared to 40 per cent against.

The poll also shows that 35 per cent of Scots are more likely to back Scottish independence if the Tories were to win the next General Election, compared to just 6 per cent who would be less likely – a balance of some six-to-one.

In the independence referendum poll question, support for independence increases by 4 points from the last YouGov poll in March to 37%, with 52% against – the best position in a YouGov poll since September 2008.

SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson said:

“This poll shows that an independence referendum is there to be won. As we approach the European elections, when people are asked if they want Scotland to be a member of the EU in our own right – as opposed to being represented by the UK government – the answer is positive. And the headline support for independence has also increased by 4 points to the best position in a YouGov poll since last autumn.

“As the UK government arbitrarily axes the Scottish budget by £500 million in the teeth of a recession, it will become ever clearer why Scotland needs to be in charge of our own resources – and with our own voice to protect and promote Scottish interests in Europe.”

SNP President and MEP Ian Hudghton said;

“This poll is an excellent starting point for the SNP as we go into the European election campaign.

“This poll shows voters want Scotland to have a strong independent voice in Europe. A vote for the SNP in June is about giving Scotland that voice, supporting the SNP in fighting for Scottish jobs in Europe and showing that Scotland has what it takes to be at the heart of Europe.”

Details of the poll are as follows:

On balance do you think Scotland should…?

Continue to be represented by the UK Government in the European Union - 40%
Be a member of the European Union in its own right and represented by the Scottish Government - 42%
Neither of these - 9%
Don’t know - 9%

In the referendum, the Scottish Government intends to ask people whether they think the Scottish Government should negotiate a new partnership with the United Kingdom so that Scotland becomes an independent country.

Do you agree or disagree that the Scottish Government should negotiate this new partnership?

I AGREE that the Scottish Government should negotiate a new partnership so that Scotland becomes an independent country - 37%
I DO NOT AGREE that the Scottish Government should negotiate a new partnership so that Scotland becomes an independent country - 52%
Don’t know - 11%

Note - In a YouGov poll in January the gap was 26% and in a March YouGov poll it was 20%.

If the Conservative Party were to win the next General Election, would this make you more likely or less likely to back Scottish independence?

Much more likely to back Scottish independence - 24%
Slightly more likely - 11%
Slightly less likely - 3%
Much less likely to back Scottish independence - 3%
No difference – I would back Scottish independence anyway - 14%
No difference – I would NOT back Scottish independence anyway - 34%
Don’t know - 11%

The YouGov poll was commissioned by the SNP and conducted from 21-22 April among 1,020 Scottish adults.

SNP TRUSTED ON SCOTLAND’S ECONOMY.

SNP TRUSTED ON SCOTLAND’S ECONOMY.

WE’VE GOT WHAT IT TAKES TO BUILD A STRONG ECONOMY.

Figures released today show the majority of Scottish voters trust the SNP Government to look after the economy, in contrast to only a quarter who trust the UK Government.

The figures from a YouGov opinion poll commission by the SNP build on results released yesterday showing twice as many Scots voters trust the SNP to meet the needs and aspirations of their families.

The support for the SNP’s handling of the Scottish economy comes as the Scottish Government continues to implement it’s six point economic recovery plan and as Labour announced £500 million of cuts to Scottish investment in the middle of recession. The results also show that both conservative and Lib Dem voters think the SNP cares more about the Scottish economy than their own parties, as do a third of Labour voters – adding to the doom and gloom for Labour.

SNP MP and Treasury spokesman Stewart Hosie said; “The Scottish Government’s six point plan is delivering real recovery for Scotland, helping people at home, at work and helping the high street while Labour is letting Scotland down. “While Labour are delivering a £500 million cut in Scotland's budget, threatening 9,000 jobs, Scots voters know it is the SNP who care about the economy and are delivering measures to support 20,000 jobs.

“We’ve got what it takes to recover strongly from this recession. At every stage the SNP is working to secure a strong sustainable economy with increased investment in infrastructure and a focus on the new industries of green energy and life sciences that will build Scotland’s economic potential at this crucial time. “Last week the First Minister announced £95 million to support training places for 75,000 Scots as the latest step in our actions to help those affected by the Downing St downturn.

The apprenticeship guarantee available to our future skilled workers and the increased funding for our PACE teams to offer advise to those facing redundancy are bringing support to those who need it and show we are on their side as families fight their way through recession.

The SNP’s actions in our first two years in Government have delivered major improvements in people's lives, with the council tax frozen, scrapping of small business rates, the phased abolition of prescription charges, and investment in jobs and skills under our six-point plan to support Scotland through the recession. "By contrast, Labour's £500 million raid on Scottish spending has set the terms of politics in Scotland, and will galvanise SNP support further in the European and Westminster elections to come.


"Labour has let people down with their mismanagement of the economy and attacks on Scotland's public services. "Public support for the SNP's response to the economic situation and the trust of the Scottish people in the SNP to meet their needs and aspirations comes on top of yesterday's sensational poll figures showing the SNP increasing it's support across Holyrood and Westminster elections as we look toward a referendum in 2010."

Poll details are as follows:

1. Thinking about the performance of the UK Labour Government and the Scottish SNP Government over the past year…. Which do you think cares most about the needs and interests of you and your family

Scottish Government 44%

UK Government 22%

Neither 26%

Don’t Know 7%

2. Thinking about the performance of the UK Labour Government and the Scottish SNP Government over the past year…. Which do you think cares most about the Scottish economy

Scottish National Party 53%

Labour 22%

Conservative 8%

Lib Dem 7%

Other 10%

3. 44% of Conservative voters think the SNP cares most about the Scottish economy, compared to only 41% who favour their own party.

4. 47% of Liberal Democrat voters think the SNP cares most about the Scottish economy, compared to only 35% who favour their own party

5. 31% of Labour voters think the SNP cares most about the Scottish economy.

1020 adults across Scotland were interviewed between 21st - 22nd April 2009.

IAIN GRAY LEADERSHIP CRISIS.

IAIN GRAY LEADERSHIP CRISIS.

SCOTTISH LABOUR LEADER FALLS BEHIND TORY LEADER FOR FIRST TIME EVER – AND LOWER RATINGS THAN WENDY ALEXANDER Commenting on the YouGov poll showing that only 7 per cent of Scots believe that Labour’s Holyrood leader Iain Gray would make the best First Minister – and that more Labour voters back Alex Salmond as First Minister than Iain Gray, and more Lib Dem voters back Alex Salmond than Lib Dem leader Tavish Scott – SNP Chief Whip Brian Adam said: “This result shows that people believe Alex Salmond is an excellent First Minister for all of Scotland – with much more support than all of the other leaders added together. He is more popular among Labour voters than Iain Gray, and more popular among Lib Dem voters than Tavish Scott! “This poll marks a crisis for Iain Gray’s leadership – this is the first time in Scottish political history that a Tory leader in Scotland has been more popular than the Labour leader “As Labour’s Scottish leader, Mr Gray is the invisible man. As well as being the person defending London Labour’s £500 million cut in Scotland’s budget, his other problem is that he is totally overshadowed by Jim Murphy and Steven Purcell. "No Labour leader has ever had such low support from the Scottish public. When even fewer people want to see Iain Gray as First Minister than wanted Wendy Alexander, this is a disaster for Labour in Scotland."

WE'VE GOT WHAT IT TAKES - POLL CONFIRMS SCOTTISH VOTER’S TRUST IN SNP.

WE'VE GOT WHAT IT TAKES - POLL CONFIRMS SCOTTISH VOTER’S TRUST IN SNP.



NECK AND NECK IN RACE FOR WESTMINSTER SEATS.

SLP GRAY’S RATINGS WORSE THAN WENDY’S.

A new poll by YouGov – and commissioned by the SNP – has confirmed the
voters trust in the SNP Government is increasing for all elections as we
approach the second anniversary of the SNP’s historic victory in the 2007
Scottish Parliamentary elections.

The poll of 1020 people on 21 and 22nd April 2009 shows:

* The SNP increasing its vote in the constituency and regional votes for
the Scottish Parliament

* The SNP vote for Westminster elections increasing by 12% , bringing the
party neck and neck with Labour

* Twice as many people trust the SNP Scottish Government to focus on their
needs and interests as trust the UK Labour Government

* Alex Salmond’s ratings dwarfing other party leaders with Iain Gray’s
ratings figures not only lower than Annabel Goldie’s but historically
lower than any other Scottish Labour leader.

* Voters of all parties see the SNP holding the balance of power in
Westminster as a "good thing" for Scotland

Commenting on the poll figures Angus Robertson MP, SNP Business Convenor
and Westminster leader, said:

“This is a sensational poll for the SNP and for Scotland. As we approach
the mid term of the Parliament, they are the SNP's strongest ratings since
last autumn.

“The poll shows that voters across Scotland know that we have what it
takes to focus on their needs and interests during tough times.

“As the SNP approaches the second anniversary of our historic election
victory, the poll demonstrates a tale of two governments.

“The SNP’s actions in our first two years in Government have delivered
major improvements in people's lives, with the council tax frozen,
scrapping of small business rates, the phased abolition of prescription
charges, and investment in jobs and skills under our six-point plan to
support Scotland through the recession.

"By contrast, Labour's £500 million raid on Scottish spending has set the
terms of politics in Scotland, and will galvanise SNP support further in
the European and Westminster elections to come.

"Labour have let people down with their mismanagement of the economy and
attacks of Scotland's public services.

“Double the number of people trust the SNP Government over the UK Labour
government to be on their side. The SNP’s support for jobs, skills,
training and investment is clearly recognised by voters as doing
everything possible within our powers to promote recovery from Labour’s
recession and build a strong, sustainable economy and society.”

Commenting on the leadership and First Minister ratings which confirm Alex
Salmond’s support and show the Labour leader with the worst figures ever,
Mr Robertson said:

“This result shows that people believe Alex Salmond is an excellent First
Minister for all of Scotland - he is more popular among Labour voters than
Iain Gray, and more popular among Lib Dem voters that Tavish Scott!

“The poll is a personal disaster for Iain Gray – as Labour’s Scottish
leader he is the invisible man, and totally overshadowed by Jim Murphy and
Steven Purcell.

“No Labour leader has ever had such low support from the Scottish public.
When even fewer people want to see Iain Gray as First Minister than wanted
Wendy Alexander, this is a crisis for his leadership."

Commenting on the voting intentions for Westminster and the support for
the SNP to hold the balance of power at Westminster Stewart Hosie MP,
Convenor of the SNP’s Westminster Campaign added;

“These dramatic results show voters know the SNP has got what it takes to
provide them with a strong voice at Westminster.

“Labour have lost the trust of the Scottish public.

“With a 12% increase from the 2005 election the SNP is winning the trust
of the Scottish electorate at all levels whilst Labour is continuing to
lose public support and the LibDems are disappearing from the electoral
map.

“There is clear evidence from this poll that voters of all parties support
the SNP holding the balance of power at Westminster, no matter who is in
number 10.

“The SNP in Westminster have got what it takes to see Scotland’s interests
protected, not sacrificed as they have been under successive Labour and
Tory governments and this poll shows that the Scottish public recognise
our vital role in protecting and promoting their interests."

SNP PUTTING THE PEOPLE OF SCOTTLAND FIRST!!!