Scotland's SNP Surges 29 Points Ahead of Labour's Ed Miliband Amid 2015 General Election Blow

The Labour Party in Scotland could be severely damaged after the 2015 General Election as the Scottish National Party has surged to a 29% lead, according to a poll by Ipsos MORI for STV News.

The survey, which questioned more than 1,000 people in October, found that Labour would only win 23% of the Scottish vote, down from the 42% it secured in 2010.

In comparison, the research revealed that the SNP would receive 52% if the general election was held tomorrow, up from the 19.9% Nicola Sturgeon's party won in 2010.

The poll means that the SNP would have a projected 54 seats at Westminster and severely reduce Labour's 41 Scottish MPs – undermining Ed Miliband's chances of becoming the next Prime Minister.

The research will also be a blow to Jim Murphy MP, who announced his intentions as the leader of Scottish Labour after Johann Lamont resigned from the role last week.

The Shadow International Development Secretary plans to launch a formal campaign later this week.

"I'm not interested in left-wing Labour or right-wing Labour, or old Labour or new Labour. I'm interested in losing Labour," Murphy told the BBC.

"I want to end that period of losing Labour here in Scotland, starting with the UK general election in 2015, where I'm confident we can hold all the seats we currently have but pick up one or two on top and also win that election in 2016 for the Scottish Parliament."

The developments come after Scots voted against independence from the rest of the UK in a hard fought referendum campaign.

The final result (55.3% Yes, 44.7% No) led Alex Salmond, the Scottish First Minister, to resign and a political row erupted over the No Campaign's promises of further devolution from Westminster after the election.