The 2016 Scottish Parliament election was held on Thursday 5 May 2016Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 section 4 to elect 129 members to the Scottish Parliament. It was the fifth general election since the parliament was re-established in 1999.
Polling data Graphical summary The constituency vote is shown as semi-transparent lines, while the regional vote is shown in full lines.
Constituency Vote (FPTP)
2016 Date(s)conducted Polling organisation/client Sample size SNPLab Con Lib Dem Others Lead5 May 2016 Scottish Parliament election 2,279,153 46.5% 22.6% 22.0% 7.8% 1.1% 23.9%2–4 May YouGov/The Times 1,445 48% 22% 19% 7% 4% 26%1–2 May Survation/Daily Record 1,024 49% 21% 19% 7% 5% 28%1 May BBC Scotland debate between Davidson, Dugdale, Harvie, Rennie and Sturgeon.23–28 Apr Panelbase/Sunday Times 1,074 49% 23% 17% 6% 4% 26%18–25 Apr Ipsos MORI/STV 1,015 51% 19% 18% 6% 6% 32%1–24 Apr TNS 1,035 52% 22% 17% 7% 3% 30%15–20 Apr Survation/Daily Record 1,005 53% 18% 17% 7% 5% 35%11–15 Apr BMG Research/Herald 1,012 53% 21% 16% 6% 3% 32%6–15 Apr Panelbase/Sunday Times 1,021 51% 19% 18% 5% 7% 32%7–11 Apr YouGov/The Times 1,012 50% 21% 18% 5% 6% 29%23 Mar–3 Apr Survation/Unison Scotland 1,003 52% 21% 16% 6% 4% 31%29 Mar STV debate between Davidson, Dugdale, Harvie, Rennie and Sturgeon.24 Mar BBC Scotland debate between Coburn, Davidson, Dugdale, Harvie, Rennie and Sturgeon.2–22 Mar TNS 1,013 56% 19% 15% 6% 3% 37%10–17 Mar Survation/Daily Record 1,051 54% 20% 16% 7% 4% 34%7–9 Mar YouGov/The Times 1,070 49% 19% 19% 6% 7% 30%25–29 Feb Survation/Daily Mail 1,022 54% 21% 16% 5% 4% 33%3–24 Feb TNS 1,036 60% 21% 13% 4% 2% 39%11–16 Feb Survation/Daily Record 1,006 53% 22% 16% 6% 3% 31%1–7 Feb Ipsos MORI/STV 1,000 53% 20% 16% 6% 5% 33%1–4 Feb YouGov/The Times 1,022 50% 19% 20% 6% 5% 30%6–25 Jan TNS 1,016 57% 21% 17% 3% 2% 36%8–14 Jan Panelbase/Sunday Times 1,053 50% 21% 17% 6% 5% 29%8–12 Jan Survation/Daily Record 1,029 52% 21% 16% 7% 4% 31%
2015 Date(s)conducted Polling organisation/client Sample size SNPLab Con Lib Dem Others Lead16 Nov–14 Dec TNS 1,035 58% 21% 12% 4% 5% 37%9–16 Nov Ipsos MORI/STV 1,029 50% 20% 18% 7% 5% 30%16 Oct–4 Nov TNS 1,034 58% 24% 12% 4% 2% 34%9–13 Oct YouGov/The Times 1,026 51% 21% 19% 5% 5% 30%9–30 Sep TNS 1,037 56% 21% 12% 6% 5% 35%12 Sep Jeremy Corbyn becomes leader of the Labour Party7–10 Sep Survation/The Scottish Daily Mail 1,010 53% 22% 14% 6% 5% 31%7–10 Sep YouGov/The Times 1,110 51% 22% 18% 4% 5% 29%12 Aug–1 Sep TNS 1,023 58% 23% 12% 5% 2% 35%24–30 Aug Ipsos MORI/STV 1,002 55% 20% 12% 7% 6% 35%15 Aug Kezia Dugdale becomes leader of Scottish Labour10 July–3 Aug TNS 1,029 62% 20% 12% 3% 2% 42%19 June–8 July TNS 1,056 60% 20% 14% 5% 2% 40%3–7 July Survation/Scottish Daily Mail 1,084 56% 20% 14% 7% 4% 36% 13–30 May TNS 1,031 60% 19% 15% 3% 3% 41%16 May Jim Murphy resigns as leader of Scottish Labour7 May 2015 United Kingdom general election29 Apr–1 May YouGov/The Times 1,162 49% 25% 15% 7% 4% 24% 22–27 Apr Survation/Daily Record 1,015 54% 24% 13% 5% 4% 30% 16–20 Apr YouGov/The Times 1,111 51% 25% 14% 6% 4% 26% 8–9 Apr YouGov/The Times 1,056 49% 24% 16% 5% 5% 25%13–19 Mar ICM/Guardian 1,002 46% 26% 13% 5% 9% 20%12–17 Mar Survation/Daily Record 1,027 50% 26% 13% 5% 6% 24%10–12 Mar YouGov/The Times 1,049 46% 27% 14% 4% 5% 19%12–17 Feb Survation/Daily Record 1,011 48% 28% 13% 5% 7% 20% 29 Jan–2 Feb YouGov/The Times 1,001 51% 26% 12% 4% 7% 25% 14 Jan–2 Feb TNS 1,006 47% 31% 13% 4% 5% 16% 12–19 Jan Ipsos MORI/STV 1,001 53% 24% 11% 5% 7% 29%
2014 Date(s)conducted Polling organisation/client Sample size SNPLab Con Lib Dem Others Lead16–18 Dec ICM/Guardian 1,004 44% 26% 12% 6% 11% 18% 15–18 Dec Survation/Daily Record 1,000 51% 25% 15% 5% 5% 26% 13 Dec Jim Murphy becomes leader of Scottish Labour9–11 Dec YouGov/The Sun 1,081 50% 28% 14% 3% 5% 22% 27 Nov Release of Smith Commission Report20 Nov Nicola Sturgeon becomes First Minister of Scotland16 Nov Nicola Sturgeon becomes leader of the SNP6–13 Nov Survation/Daily Record 1,001 50% 23% 14% 7% 6% 27% 27–30 Oct YouGov/Times 1,078 46% 28% 12% 5% 9% 18% 22–29 Oct Ipsos MORI 1,026 57% 23% 8% 6% 5% 34% 24 Oct Johann Lamont resigns as leader of the Scottish Labour Party, triggering a leadership election12 Sep – 1 Oct Panelbase/Scottish National Party 1,049 42% 27% 15% 5% 10% 15%19 Sep Survation/Daily Mail 871 49% 31% 13% 3% 1% 18%19 Sep First Minister Alex Salmond announces his resignation, triggering a leadership election18 Sep Scottish independence referendum15–17 Sep YouGov/The Sun 3,237 40% 32% 15% 4% 9% 8%12–16 Sep Survation/Daily Mail 1,000 42% 31% 15% 6% 6% 11%9–11 Sep YouGov/The Times/The Sun 1,268 39% 35% 15% 4% 8% 4%5–9 Sep Survation/Daily Record 1,000 43% 33% 14% 4% 5% 10%2–5 Sep YouGov/Sunday Times 1,084 40% 33% 16% 4% 8% 7%28 Aug – 1 Sep YouGov/The Times/The Sun 1,063 39% 34% 15% 5% 7% 5%12–15 Aug YouGov/The Times 1,085 37% 37% 15% 4% 7% Tied4–7 Aug YouGov/The Sun 1,142 36% 37% 16% 4% 7% 1%28 Jul – 3 Aug Ipsos MORI/STV 1,006 36% 34% 16% 6% 8% 2%4–8 Jul Survation/Daily Record 1,013 44% 31% 13% 5% 7% 13%25–29 Jun YouGov/The Times 1,206 35% 37% 15% 6% 8% 2%12–16 Jun YouGov/The Sun 1,039 35% 37% 14% 5% 9% 2%8–10 Jun Survation/Daily Record 1,004 46% 28% 13% 6% 6% 18%16 May – 1 Jun Ipsos MORI/STV 1,003 39% 30% 14% 5% 12% 9%22 May 2014 European Parliament election9–12 May Survation/Daily Record 1,003 44% 32% 15% 5% 4% 12%11–15 Apr Survation/Sunday Post 1,002 46% 32% 13% 6% 4% 14%4–7 Apr Survation/Daily Record 1,001 45% 32% 14% 6% 4% 13%20–24 Mar YouGov/The Times 1,002 38% 35% 13% 7% 7% 3%6–7 Mar Survation/Daily Record/Better Nation 1,002 45% 34% 13% 5% 4% 11%24–28 Feb YouGov 1,257 39% 37% 14% 5% 5% 2%17–18 Feb Survation/Daily Mail 1,005 44% 31% 13% 6% 6% 13%29 Jan – 6 Feb Panelbase/Sunday Times 1,012 43% 32% 14% 6% 6% 11%29–31 Jan Survation/Mail on Sunday 1,010 38% 36% 12% 9% 5% 2%21–27 Jan YouGov 1,192 34% 38% 15% 5% 7% 4%23 Jan 2014 Cowdenbeath by-election
2013 Date(s)conducted Polling organisation/client Sample size SNPLab Con Lib Dem Others Lead13–20 Dec Panelbase/Scottish National Party 1,012 40% 32% 15% 5% 8% 8%29 Nov – 5 Dec Ipsos MORI/STV News 1,006 36% 34% 15% 7% 7% 2%24 October 2013 Dunfermline by-election9–15 Sep Ipsos MORI 1,000 41% 37% 13% 7% 2% 4%30 Aug – 5 Sep Panelbase/Sunday Times 1,002 45% 32% 12% 5% 6% 13%17–24 Jul Panelbase/Sunday Times 1,001 48% 30% 13% 4% 5% 18%20 June 2013 Aberdeen Donside by-election29 Apr – 5 May Ipsos MORI/The Times 1,001 39% 36% 16% 8% 1% 2%4–9 Feb Ipsos MORI/The Times 1,003 43% 35% 13% 7% 2% 8%
2012 Date(s)conducted Polling organisation/client Sample size SNPLab Con Lib Dem Others Lead8–15 Oct Ipsos MORI/The Times 1,003 40% 35% 13% 8% 4% 5%7–13 Jun Ipsos MORI 1,003 45% 32% 12% 6% 5% 13%3 May 2012 Scottish local elections27–29 Jan Ipsos MORI 1,005 49% 23% 13% 10% 5% 26%26 Jan – 1 Feb Panelbase/Sunday Times 1,008 43% 25% 12% 4% 3% 18%
2011 Date(s)conducted Polling organisation/client Sample size SNPLab Con Lib Dem Others Lead5 May 2011 Scottish Parliament election 1,989,222 45.4% 31.7% 13.9% 7.9% 1.1% 13.7%
Regional Vote (AMS)
Graphical summary
2016 Date(s)conducted Polling organisation/client Sample size SNPLab Con Green Lib Dem UKIP RISEIn August 2015, the Scottish Socialist Party announced it would stand as part of an electoral alliance called RISE – Scotland's Left Alliance Others Lead5 May 2016 Scottish Parliament election 2,285,752 41.7% 19.1% 22.9% 6.6% 5.2% 2.0% 0.5% 2.0% 18.8%2–4 May YouGov/The Times 1,445 41% 19% 20% 9% 6% 4% 1% 1% 21%1–2 May Survation/Daily Record 1,024 44% 19% 20% 7% 6% 2% 2% 24%1 May BBC Scotland debate between Davidson, Dugdale, Harvie, Rennie and Sturgeon.23–28 Apr Panelbase/Sunday Times 1,074 44% 22% 19% 6% 4% 3% 2% <1% 22%18–25 Apr Ipsos MORI/STV 1,015 45% 17% 19% 10% 7% 1% <1% <1% 26%1–24 Apr TNS 1,035 45% 22% 18% 8% 5% <1% 1% <1% 23%15–20 Apr Survation/Daily Record 1,005 43% 17% 18% 11% 7% 4% 2% 25%11–15 Apr BMG Research/Herald 1,012 46% 20% 16% 7% 6% 4% 0% 26%6–15 Apr Panelbase/Sunday Times 1,021 47% 18% 19% 8% 4% 3% 1% <1% 28%7–11 Apr YouGov/The Times 1,012 45% 19% 18% 8% 5% 3% 1% 1% 26%23 Mar–3 Apr Survation/Unison Scotland 1,003 44% 19% 16% 10% 7% 4% 1% 25%29 Mar STV debate between Davidson, Dugdale, Harvie, Rennie and Sturgeon.24 Mar BBC Scotland debate between Coburn, Davidson, Dugdale, Harvie, Rennie and Sturgeon.2–22 Mar TNS 1,013 47% 21% 15% 8% 6% 1% 2% – 26%10–17 Mar Survation/Daily Record 1,051 42% 18% 18% 10% 6% 5% 1% 24%7–9 Mar YouGov/The Times 1,070 43% 17% 19% 8% 5% 4% 1% 1% 24%25–29 Feb Survation/Daily Mail 1,022 43% 19% 14% 9% 7% 6% – 1% 24%3–24 Feb TNS 1,036 55% 21% 13% 6% 4% – – – 34%11–16 Feb Survation/Daily Record 1,006 45% 18% 15% 9% 6% 6% – 1% 27%1–7 Feb Ipsos MORI/STV 1,000 49% 19% 15% 6% 8% 1% <1% 2% 30%1–4 Feb YouGov/The Times 1,022 42% 20% 20% 6% 5% 3% 2% 1% 22%6–25 Jan TNS 1,016 52% 19% 17% 6% 6% <1% <1% 1% 33%8–14 Jan Panelbase/Sunday Times 1,053 48% 19% 17% 5% 7% 2% 1% 1% 29%8–12 Jan Survation/Daily Record 1,029 42% 20% 16% 9% 8% 5% – <1% 22%
2015 Date(s)conducted Polling organisation/client Sample size SNPLab Con Green Lib Dem UKIP SSP/RISE Others Lead16 Nov-14 Dec TNS 1,035 54% 20% 12% 9% 4% 1% <0.5% 0% 34%9–16 Nov Ipsos MORI/STV 1,029 46% 19% 16% 7% 8% 1% <0.5% 1% 27%16 Oct–4 Nov TNS 1,034 52% 25% 11% 5% 5% 2% <0.5% 1% 27%9–13 Oct YouGov/The Times 1,110 45% 20% 19% 6% 5% 3% 3% 0% 25%9–30 Sep TNS 1,037 52% 23% 11% 5% 6% 3% 0.5% 1% 29%12 Sep Jeremy Corbyn becomes leader of the Labour Party7–10 Sep Survation/The Scottish Daily Mail 1,010 42% 21% 13% 11% 6% 5% 0% 1% 21%7–10 Sep YouGov/The Times 1,110 45% 20% 18% 6% 4% 3% 3% 1% 25%12 Aug–1 Sep TNS 1,023 51% 24% 11% 6% 6% 1% <0.5% 1% 27%24–30 Aug Ipsos MORI/STV 1,002 50% 20% 12% 8% 7% <0.5% 2% 30%15 Aug Kezia Dugdale becomes leader of Scottish Labour10 Jul-3 Aug TNS 1,029 54% 20% 12% 8% 4% 1% 1% 0% 34%19 Jun-8 Jul TNS 1,056 51% 21% 13% 7% 5% 1% 1% 0% 30%3–7 Jul Survation/Daily Mail 1,031 45% 19% 12% 11% 8% 5% 0% 26% 13–30 May TNS 1,031 50% 19% 14% 10% 5% 2% 0% 31%16 May Jim Murphy resigns as leader of Scottish Labour7 May 2015 United Kingdom general election29 Apr-1 May YouGov/The Times 1,162 43% 24% 16% 7% 6% 2% 3% 0% 19% 22–27 Apr Survation/Daily Record 1,015 44% 21% 11% 10% 6% 5% 1% 23% 16–20 Apr YouGov/The Times 1,111 42% 25% 15% 7% 6% 2% 2% 0% 17%8–9 Apr YouGov/The Times 1,056 42% 24% 16% 6% 5% 2% 3% 1% 18%13–19 Mar Survation/Daily Record 1,002 42% 26% 14% 5% 6% 6% 1% 16%12–17 Mar Survation/Daily Record 1,027 39% 23% 15% 11% 5% 6% 2% 16%10–12 Mar YouGov/The Times 1,001 43% 25% 15% 8% 5% 2% 2% 0% 18%12–17 Feb Survation/Daily Record 1,011 39% 22% 12% 13% 7% 7% <0.5% 1% 17%29 Jan-2 Feb YouGov/The Times 1,001 44% 24% 12% 8% 4% 3% 3% 1% 20%14 Jan-2 Feb TNS BMRB 1,006 44% 26% 13% 9% 6% 0% 1% 1% 18%12–19 Jan Ipsos MORI/STV 1,001 48% 22% 11% 10% 5% 2% 1% 1% 26%
2014