HERALD OPINION POLL AND SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT ELECTION

Early day motion 506, tabled 3 December 2001 by Alex Salmond (Scottish National Party). Signed by 6 members.

That this House welcomes the System Three opinion poll published in the Herald newspaper on Monday 3rd December, which shows that the gap between the SNP and Labour on the first Scottish Parliament vote is less than half what it was at the equivalent point in the run-up to the 1999 election, a gap of 19 points in 1997 having become just eight points now, and only four on the second, PR vote; notes that Tory ratings are also down; believes that this shows that the SNP are entering the 2003 Scottish elections with a much stronger base of support than even going into 1999; and further believes that as Labour's problems of sleaze and cronyism grow, Labour ratings will keep going down, and the SNP will continue to advance.

Signatures by party: Scottish National Party 5, Plaid Cymru 1.