Scottish politics ready for realignment?

Labour leaders in Scotland are braced for up to nine losses in Thursday's election, according to weekend speculation.

The party is fighting a rearguard action against the SNP, the Liberal Democrats and the Scottish Conservatives.

Strategists fear that Labour's campaign has been mishandled and believe the unpopularity of the prime minister and recent boundary changes could work against them on Thursday.

Party sources are already turning their fire on Jack McConnell over Labour's failure to seize the campaign agenda north of the border.

The latest opinion poll in Scotland has shown Labour's vote down seven points to 40 per cent.

The Conservatives say they are confident that they can take key marginals from Labour - with the party's Peter Duncan hopeful that he can win in Dumfries and Galloway.

The SNP, meanwhile, says it is on the verge of seizing Dundee East from Labour. According to canvass returns Labour's support in the city is in free fall.

Elsewhere the Liberal Democrats say they are confident of taking the constituency of Inverness, Badenoch and Strathspey - and have also set their sights on Edinburgh South, the Western Isles and Aberdeen South.

A series of Lib Dem gains could also have implications for the Scottish power-sharing government.

Party sources say they will be unlikely to prop up Labour in the next Scottish parliament unless they secure a very good deal when the coalition negotiations take place.