SNP increases its lead over Labour in Scotland

The poll makes grim reading for Labour, which is hoping to capitalise on the party’s move to the left under Jeremy Corbyn

The new poll indicates that support for Nicola Sturgeon’s SNP is continuing to grow (Getty)

The SNP has increased its lead over Labour despite sustained criticism over its record on hospital provision and the controversial closure of the Forth Road Bridge.

With under six months to go before elections to the Scottish Parliament, a TNS poll has found that support for the party in the regional list section was up two points among committed voters to 54 per cent, with Labour down five points at 20 percent.

The poll makes grim reading for Labour, which is hoping to capitalise on the party’s move to the left under Jeremy Corbyn in next year’s election.

It puts Labour four percentage points lower than it achieved in Westminster election in May under Ed Miliband. If the poll is right and the party fails to build its share of the vote in the elections next year it will increase pressure on Mr Corbyn, whose leadership win was supposed to mark a reversal in Labour’s recent dismal Scottish performance.

SNP Business Convener Derek Mackay MSP said: “Today’s poll shows people in Scotland are continuing to back the SNP’s positive and progressive vision for Scotland’s future – and putting their trust in the party to build on our record of delivery and success in government for a historic third term.”

The poll also indicates that support for Nicola Sturgeon’s party continues to grow regardless of criticism over devolved matters, such as the maintenance of the Forth Road Bridge, which will remain closed until 2016, and winter pressures in hospitals.

Tom Costley, the head of TNS Scotland, said: “The past month has seen the political agenda return to devolved issues such as healthcare and transport. The criticism appears to have had little or no effect on support for the SNP.”

Support for the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats support in the regional section held steady at 12 per cent and 4 per cent respectively.

Meanwhile, support for the SNP in the constituency section of the Holyrood election was steady at 58 per cent among those who expressed a party preference. Labour slipped by three percentage points to 21 per cent.

A Scottish Labour spokesman said: “We are in no doubt that regaining the trust and confidence of the Scottish people will take time but we are confident that with fresh leadership and a focus on cutting the gap between the richest and the rest we can be the party that people in Scotland put their faith in again.

"Scotland needs a radical alternative to an SNP government who are content to manage austerity rather than reject austerity.”

The poll also found that more Scots oppose the renewal of the Trident nuclear deterrent than support it.

Healthcare remained the top priority for voters, while the economy rose to joint second place alongside education and training on 40 per cent.