Blow for Labour as poll gives SNP four-point lead in Glasgow East byelection

by Dave Keating | July 11, 2008 at 04:06 am | 129 views | add comment | 0 recommendations

These are scary times indeed for the Labour Party in the UK. The Scottish National Party is now polling four points ahead of Labour for the upcoming by-election in Glasgow East. If Labour loses this election, Gordon Brown will likely have to step down before the end of the year.

Gordon Brown today faced a further setback ahead of the Glasgow East byelection as a poll revealed that the Scottish National party had opened up a four-point lead over Labour.

A YouGov survey for the Daily Telegraph showed the SNP running at 33% to Labour's 29%, with the Tories on 20%, and the Lib Dems on 14%.

The survey also indicated that 49% of Scots wanted the nationalists to win in Glasgow East, while 33% wanted Labour to win.

Today's findings will do little to cheer the Labour camp ahead of the Glasgow East byelection, which is seen as a critical test of Brown's leadership.

Labour figures fear they could lose Glasgow East to the SNP, despite a 13,507 majority, following a poor performance in the May council elections, two dismal byelection results and a string of poor poll ratings in recent months.