New polling data points to two opposition MSPs in Aberdeen losing their seats in the next Scottish Parliament elections, according to the SNP.
The Nationalists say analysis of the data shows Labour’s Lewis Macdonald and the Liberal Democrats’ Nicol Stephen would fall to SNP candidates in 2011.
Findings published by Scottish polling company TNS-BMRP – formerly TNS System Three – show the SNP up one point in Holyrood constituency voting intentions.
Since June, SNP support has gone up from 39% to 40%, while Labour has remained unchanged at 32%.
The Tories are up one point to 13% and the Lib Dems remain on 11%. The number of voters preferring other parties is down from 7% to 5%.
The SNP said an analysis by public relations firm Weber Shandwick showed the party would pick up seven Holyrood seats, giving it 54.
Labour, the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats would each lose twos, giving them 44, 15 and 15 respectively. The Greens would remain unchanged with two MSPs.
The SNP said Labour energy spokesman Mr Macdonald would lose his Aberdeen Central seat and former Lib Dem leader Mr Stephen would lose in Aberdeen South.
Other Labour shadow ministers to be unseated would be Karen Whitefield in Airdrie and Shotts, Pauline McNeil in Glasgow Kelvin, Andy Kerr in East Kilbride and Jackie Baillie in Dumbarton. Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray’s seat in East Lothian would also be on the point of toppling to the SNP.
SNP business convener and Moray MP Angus Robertson said: “The extraordinary feature of this poll is that the SNP’s ratings for the constituency Holyrood vote have actually increased since the last poll in June — a phenomenal achievement for the SNP well over two years into government.”
But Mr Macdonald said: “Whatever the statistics the poll may produce, the reality is that support for the SNP in Aberdeen has gone down in the last two years because of the disastrous stewardship by the SNP of the local council and public services.”
Mr Stephen was not available to comment but a spokeswoman said: “The Liberal Democrats are in second place for the Westminster Aberdeen South seat, while the SNP are languishing in fourth place. They're trying to spin their way out of this.”
The SNP’s hopes in Thursday’s Glasgow North-east by-election were dealt a blow by the TNS-BMRB poll. It showed Labour with a 14 point lead.