THE SNP is on course to remain the biggest party in Holyrood in 2026 as disappointment with Labour’s Westminster government mounts, according to a prominent pollster.

Strathclyde University political scientist Professor Sir John Curtice’s analysis comes in the wake of a new Survation poll which predicted the SNP will fall from 62 to 52 seats in next year’s elections, but retain its status as the largest party

Scottish Labour will win just two more seats to return to their 2016 tally of 24, it found.

The poll of 1,024 Scottish residents for the Holyrood Sources podcast and True North Advisers also points to Tory representation collapsing from 31 to just 15, on par with Reform UK, while the Liberals look set to grow from four seats to 12, and the Greens from eight seats to 10.

Sir John argues that Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar’s “once seemingly bright prospects of becoming Scotland’s next first minister have diminished markedly since July” amid disappointment in the UK Labour government.

But he warned: “Nevertheless, the SNP are currently still heading for significant losses in next year’s Holyrood election and could well find it difficult to form a stable administration.”