A famous pollster has warned that the SNP could be reduced to a handful of seats in the next general election following a catastrophic by-election defeat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Labour defeated Humza Yousaf’s party in Rutherglen and Hamilton West with a larger-than-expected swing of more than 20%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Professor Sir John Curtice, a polling specialist, believes the SNP may be reduced to six MPs if a similar swing occurs across Scotland in next year’s general election.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The swing to Labour is markedly higher than I think even Labour expected, and certainly most of us expected,” Prof Curtice added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“This looks much more like the kind of result we might have expected in a by-election in Scotland, in the west of Scotland, before the 2014 independence referendum, after which, of course, Labour’s representation in Scotland collapsed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“With nearly 59 percent of the vote, Labour’s share of the vote in the constituency is almost as high as it was back in the 2010 general election.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“And if – obviously it’s a big if – the swing since 2019 were to be replicated across Scotland as a whole, you are talking of Labour being back to having about 40 seats and the SNP being back down to not much more than half a dozen seats.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sir John added that it could put Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer on course for Downing Street.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said: “This result very firmly confirms the direction of travel indicated by the polls and that Labour do pose a serious challenge to the SNP’s continued dominance at Westminster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“That potentially has implications for the overall outcome in the general election because, if that were to happen, they would find it easier to get an overall majority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“But also the kinds of increases that Labour have registered in their vote in this by-election, what they achieved in Selby, this is the kind of results that you see in advance of general elections when parties are on course to win.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Labour candidate Michael Shanks won 17,845 votes in Thursday’s by-election, well ahead of the 8,399 returned for SNP rival Katy Loudon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After securing more than 58 percent of the votes cast, Mr Shanks now has a majority of 9,446.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Labour now has two MPs in Scotland – far off its more than 40 in 2010 before its representation collapsed after the 2014 independence referendum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
SNP leader and Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf admitted it was a “disappointing night” for his party, which has been plunged into chaos by Nicola Sturgeon’s departure and a police probe into its finances.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A famous pollster has warned that the SNP could be reduced to a handful of seats in the next general election following a catastrophic by-election defeat. Labour defeated Humza Yousaf’s … <\/p>\n