Anas Sarwar has insisted Scottish Labour has the momentum to produce an election surprise on Thursday.
With a week to run of the 2021 campaign the Labour leader has claimed public support is moving in Labour’s direction.
Sarwar hailed as progress a poll showing that Labour is predicted to remain on its current total of 24 MSPs, making it the third party in the parliament.
He said: “The momentum is with us, our vote is increasing both in the constituency and in the list, every other party’s vote is coming down. I think over the next week we can carry on that momentum and pull off some surprises.”
The Savanta ComRes poll showed Labour still in third place behind the Tories but Sarwar's own popularity increased again, with his net favourability rising to +9, just 7 points behind Nicola Sturgeon.
During a campaign stop in Stirling to persuade voters to use their second ballot to back Labour Sarwar said the “feelgood factor” he injected into the election would pay off.
He said: “It is obvious which political leader is most enjoying this election campaign, showing most energy and most hunger in the this campaign."
“What I am saying to people in this last week if you agree with me, like what I am saying, use your second vote for Labour.”
He added: “ What would just remind people of is where we were eight week ago. We were at 14 per cent in the polls, the Greens were saying that we were going to be pushed into fourth place, and the debate was where the labor would get 15 MSPs.”
“So, we are making progress, and I want that progress to continue in the next week.”
"Let’s get the best result we can, and then spend over the next five years in building on that and getting to a place where we are able to elect a Labour First Minister.”
