Statement on voting intention figures for Scottish Parliament elections
As a result of a data processing error, the data tables we published from our last three polls on voting intention for the Scottish Parliament did not include a number of responses where respondents told us they would use their first vote to vote for a candidate who did not represent one of the four main political parties.
As a result of a data processing error, the data tables we published from our last three polls on voting intention for the Scottish Parliament did not include a number of responses where respondents told us they would use their first vote to vote for a candidate who did not represent one of the four main political parties (SNP, Scottish Labour, Scottish Conservative and Unionist and Scottish Liberal Democrats). This has meant that, while the numbers we reported as supporting the main parties were correct, the percentages were too high. When the respondents supporting minor parties are included, the percentage supporting each of the four main parties is slightly reduced, by one or two percentage points. The SNP lead over Scottish Labour is unaffected, remaining at four percentage points. The table below shows the impact on our latest poll.
| Originally reported | Corrected | |
|---|---|---|
| Certain to vote | % | % |
| Scottish National Party (SNP) | 41 | 39 |
| Scottish Labour | 37 | 35 |
| Scottish Conservative and Unionist | 13 | 12 |
| Scottish Liberal Democrat | 7 | 7 |
The polls affected were carried out in February, May and September of this year and no earlier polls were affected. We have now resolved this issue and have republished all data tables, topline information and slides on our website today (see below). Voting intentions in the Independence referendum is unaffected. We would like to thank Professor John Curtice from Strathclyde University for his assistance in identifying this issue. If you have any queries on this matter pleased contact Mark Diffley by email or call (0131) 240 3269.
February 2013
- Download the topline results here (PDF)
- Download the data tables here (PDF)
- Download the charts here (PDF)
May 2013
- Download the topline results here (PDF)
- Download the data tables here (PDF)
- Download the charts here (PDF)
September 2013
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