SNP continue to top opinion polls

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A new opinion poll shows the highest levels of support yet for the Scottish National Party.

The TNS System Three poll suggests Alex Salmond's party could be the largest party after the Scottish Parliament elections on 3 May.

It is the fourth poll in a week to give the Nationalists an outright lead over their main rivals Labour.

The TNS survey, commissioned by STV, was carried out between 20 and 27 March and questioned 996 adults.

Political expert Professor Bill Miller, from the University of Glasgow, calculated that the poll results would leave the SNP with 51 seats at Holyrood, followed by Labour on 44. TNS SYSTEM THREE FOR STV SNP - 39% (constituency) 36% (list)Labour - 34% (constituency) 25% (list)Lib Dems - 11% (constituency) 13% (list)Tories - 13% (constituency) 11% (list)Others - 3% (constituency) 16% (list)

The Lib Dems would come in third with 16 seats, trailed by the Conservatives with 13, the Greens with four seats, and the SSP just one. He said: "This survey confirms the trend of other recent surveys.

"But it puts the number of SNP MSPs even higher than other polls.

"The finding is all the more significant because over the past year System Three polls have consistently been more favourable to Labour and less favourable to the SNP than other polls."

He added: "Now the pollsters all seem to be reaching similar conclusions and there is no longer any conflict of evidence."