POLLS showing Scottish Labour is likely to lose seats at the next Holyrood election are a “disaster” for the party, a former Labour MSP warns — but one that may be beyond its power to fix.

A poll carried out for The Herald by Find Out Now suggested pro-independence parties would hold a majority — the Scottish National Party (SNP) winning 51 seats (a loss of 13 on current numbers) according to analysis by Sir John Curtice, the Scottish Greens 15 (an increase of eight) and Alba eight (up seven), making 74 of the 129 available.

To form a governing coalition this would require a patch-up of the ruptured SNP-Green alliance, which broke up over divisions on climate and social policy, including over responses to the Cass Review into treatment of children with gender dysphoria.

But there was no hiding Labour’s declining support, with just 18 per cent of respondents saying they would vote for the party, compared to 31 per cent for the SNP. Sir John said this would translate to 16 seats.

“With a year to go until the Holyrood election Anas Sarwar cannot get rid of [Labour’s] biggest problem, Keir Starmer,” former MSP Neil Findlay told the Morning Star.

“Policies such as the ending of the universal winter fuel allowance, keeping the two child cap and the U-turns and lies about Waspi compensation have destroyed any chance Scottish Labour will win in 2026. Indeed as it stands they might be lucky to come third,” he warned.

Mr Findlay pointed to the Labour right’s silence on this dismal performance, in contrast to its record of undermining left-wing former leader Richard Leonard.

“Can you imagine the outcry from the Labour right wing had these polls come out under a leader from the left? There would be crisis meetings and calls for that leader’s resignation.”

Scottish Labour deputy leader Dame Jackie Baillie said: “Scottish Labour will work tirelessly to earn voters’ trust and demonstrate that we can deliver the new direction our country so badly needs.”

The polls showed Nigel Farage’s Reform UK is surging north of the border as well, putting it on 17 per cent, 5 points ahead of the Scottish Conservatives.