Labour is on course to be pushed into fourth place at Holyrood by the Liberal Democrats as Richard Leonard’s party continues its freefall in the polls.

The SNP would be one seat short of an overall majority with 64 MSPs, according to an analysis of YouGov research for The Times. With the support of a ten-strong group of Greens there would be a pro-independence majority of 19 in the Scottish parliament.

The Scottish Conservatives would lose six MSPs without Ruth Davidson, who quit as party leader last week, but would hold on to second place.

The seat projections are based on analysis by Sir John Curtice, Britain’s leading polling expert.

A vocal campaign against Brexit helped a resurgent Liberal Democrats to third place in