A shock poll has found public support for Scottish Labour and the SNP forming a historic coalition at Holyrood. A tie-up between the two bitter rivals was the most favoured option of Scots when asked about Holyrood election deals.
The Survation poll, carried out by True North/Holyrood Sources, showed a big lead for the SNP on 53 seats and well short of a majority. The snapshot projected a narrow pro-UK majority of MSPs but Labour could only form power in this situation with the support of the Tories and Reform.
The study also asked respondents about potential coalitions after the election in May.
It found 33 per cent of people in support of a coalition between the SNP and Labour, with 37 per cent opposed. By contrast, 31 per cent of Scots would be in favour of an SNP-Green coalition, and 42 per cent against.
Around one fifth of punters backed a deal between Labour and the Tories, but 52% were against.
Labour and the SNP share similar positions on domestic issues and are both centre-left parties, but they are divided on the constitution. In a recent article for the Spectator, former SNP MP Stewart McDonald was positive about a Labour/SNP deal.
“A coalition between the SNP and Labour, Scotland’s two dominant centre left-parties — similar to the Irish model that saw Fine Gael and Fianna Fail rotate the office of taoiseach — is one we might want to consider in the event of a messy result in 2026.”
McDonald, a senior figure in the SNP, said it would be a “breath of fresh air” and added: “I don’t suggest for a moment of course that this would be easy. It would take compromise and continuous effort to make it work. But it would, overnight, transform a political culture that has grown more interested in having an argument than winning an argument.”
Professor Sir John Curtice of Strathclyde University said: “The SNP is still well short of the level of popularity that the party enjoyed at the last. Holyrood election in 2021, and Mr Swinney might well be left seeking the support of other parties to form a new government. SNP supporters are keenest on a coalition deal with the Greens, but they may not have enough MSPs to deliver a majority.
“However, at the same time, more are in favour than are opposed to an agreement with Labour. Intriguingly, such a prospect is not an anathema for many Labour supporters either. Perhaps both parties are going to have to start thinking the hitherto unthinkable in the coming weeks and months.”
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