Mandelson: 'I would work for the tories'
Miliband: 'No big differences between Labour and Tories'
Polling shows Scottish Labour going nowhere

In another interview that will haunt Labour in the Glasgow North East by-election, UK Business Secretary Lord Mandelson has admitted he would have no qualms about continuing his career under a Tory government. Lord Mandelson’s admission follows remarks by UK Energy Secretary, and someone tipped to succeed Gordon Brown as Labour leader, Ed Miliband, that there are no "big differences" between Labour and the Tories.

The admissions are especially difficult for Scottish Labour and come as polling research over the last year shows that both Iain Gray and Jim Murphy have singularly failed to improve Labour’s polling position in Scotland.

A series of Scottish opinion polls reveal that after 12 months of Iain Gray’s lacklustre leadership the SNP remain 13 points ahead on the Holyrood constituency vote and on average 8 points ahead throughout the year, with the SNP averaging 37% with Labour on 29%, Conservatives on 14% and the Lib Dems on 13%.

Polls also show the General Election in Scotland is a two horse race between Labour and the SNP, with Labour support falling by 5 points under Jim Murphy, whilst voters have maintained their backing for the SNP.

Over the last 12 months the SNP have gone from a 2% lead over Labour in the Westminster elections to a 6% lead, whilst in Holyrood the SNP is consistently ahead with an average lead of 8% on the constituency vote.

The poll figures mark the end of a turbulent twelve months for Labour with the party coming second to the SNP at the European elections and an admission by Iain Gray that the public do not know who he is.

Commenting, SNP Campaign co-ordinator Stewart Hosie MP, said: “Lord Mandelson and Ed Miliband have removed once and for all any doubt that Labour has lost touch with its roots, and their admissions will haunt the party in the run up to the Glasgow North East by-election and the General Election.

“By coming clean and confirming that there are no big difference between Labour and the Tories, it is clear that the next election in Scotland is a two horse race between London Labour and the SNP – a fact confirmed by the latest polling analysis.

“Labour and the Tories are indeed peas in a pod - they both want to cut Scotland's budget, both are pro-Trident and both share the same anti-democratic stance in opposing a referendum on Scotland's future.

“The timing of these comments could not be worse for Jim Murphy and Iain Gray as they try to put on a united front in Brighton – they should use their joint speech to say whether they agree with Ed Miliband and Lord Mandelson, and whether they would work for the Tories.

“With the General Election just around the corner, the latest polling shows that the SNP is the only party trusted to stand up for people in Scotland and to make sure Scotland’s voice is heard on the issues that matter at Westminster.

Notes:

1. In an interview with The Telegraph, Mr Miliband said: "On certain areas there are no differences between us . . . People don't like (politicians) pretending there are big differences when there aren't."

Further details of Mr Miliband’s interview can be found here.

2. Lord Mandelson’s interview with The Times, can be found here.

A full breakdown of polls is available here, but in summary:

3. After 12 months of Iain Gray’s leadership the recent MORI/Holyrood poll [1,000 people, between 20-31 August] puts the SNP 13 points ahead on the constituency vote.

• SNP 38%
  
• Lab 25%
  
• Con 15%
  
• LD 15%

An average of Holyrood constituency polls (see attached for breakdown of the eleven polls between September 2008 and september 2009) gives the following results

• SNP 37%
• Lab 29%
• Con 14%
• LD   13%

4. Polls confirm the General Election in Scotland is a two horse race between Labour and the SNP, with Labour support falling by 5 points under Jim Murphy, whilst voters have maintained their backing for the SNP.

Weeks before Jim Murphy took the reigns as Scottish Secretary Labour were on 32% in Westminster voting intentions [YouGov/Sunday Times poll, between 3-5 Sept 08] but a year on party has slipped 5 points to 27% [MORI/Holyrood poll between 20-31 August].

5. Over the last 12 months the SNP has extended a 2% lead over Labour in the Westminster elections to a 6% lead, whilst in Holyrood the SNP is consistently ahead with an average lead of 8% on the constituency vote.