THE SNP is heading for an easy Scottish election win and Labour its worst result in its history according to polling expert Professor John Curtice.

The Strathclyde University academic said the analysis of polling shows the SNP on course for 71 seats.

His poll of polls analysis puts Nicola Sturgeon’s party winning 68 constituencies and another three on the list.

Meanwhile Labour would win zero on first past the post and would win all of its seats through the top up list gaining 23.

The number crunching of all the main polling organisations puts the Tories in third but within touching distance of Labour with 21 seats and while Labour win no contests the Tories would win three constituencies.

The LibDems would be relegated to fifth place despite increasing its MSPs from five to six because the Greens would overtake them with eight.

Professor Curtice, speaking at Glasgow University delivering a lecture titled “Are the SNP heading for another triumph?” said the fate of Labour and the LibDems was making a “boring” election interesting.

He said the contest for second place was not because the Tories were on the up but Labour on the slide and the Greens' Patrick Harvie could push Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie to the back of the Holyrood chamber.

Professor Curtice said the nature of Scottish politics could be changed in this election.

He said: “If the Labour party fails to come second the characterisation of a battle between centre-left parties is no longer valid.

“If the Lib Dems finish fifth we are left with three parties and two hangers-on.”

On the SNP’s march towards a third victory he warned over turnout and an inevitable result turning the voters off despite increased engagement among the electorate since the referendum.

He said: “There is nothing more boring than an election where the incumbent party is looking likely to be re-elected.”

But the contests will be for second and fourth place he said.

Prof Curtice, said: “It wouldn’t be that difficult for the Conservative Party to do a little bit better. It is starting from a relatively low base. It got 17% in 2007 and getting back to that wouldn't be that remarkable.

“Labour could be heading for its worst ever results in a nationwide contest in Scotland.

“The reason we are talking about a race for second place is a race to the bottom.

“It is the collapse of the Labour vote that is making second place a contest for the conservatives.”

The LibDems, with just five seats, he said are defending very little but Willie Rennie’s problem is Patrick Harvie and the Greens are doing better and could quadruple its number of MSPs and overtake them.

However, he offered a crumb of comfort for Labour candidates out campaigning.

He said that somewhere someone, like Ian Murray managed in Edinburgh last year, will hold on to their seat.

Poll of polls

Party constituency list total

SNP 68 3 71

Labour 0 23 23

Cons 3 18 21

Green 0 8 8

LibDem 2 4 6