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SCOTTISH Labour are two weeks away from a humiliating loss to the Tories, according to an ­extraordinary poll that puts them third in the race to Holyrood.

The exclusive Daily Record survey revealed Kezia Dugdale has failed to make up any ground on the SNP or shake off Ruth Davidson’s challenge for second.

And with less than a fortnight until Scots go to the polls, there is little sign Labour can turn it around.

Davidson has made a direct pitch to Labour supporters who voted No in the independence referendum by claiming she will do a better job holding First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to account.

And the Survation poll of more than 1000 Scots suggests she is having some success.

READ MORE: Poll shows voters think Davidson would make better opposition leader than Dugdale

Labour are one point ahead of the Tories in the constituency vote by 18 per cent to 17 per cent. But the numbers are reversed on the regional list, with Labour on 17 per cent and the Tories on 18 per cent.

The regional vote will be vital for both parties as the SNP are expected to win almost every constituency.

When the numbers are crunched through Scotland’s complex voting system, the Tories could come out on top with 21 seats to Labour’s 20.

The battle for second place has become the main contest in an election the SNP are certain to win, barring a major upset over the next few weeks.

Our poll puts Sturgeon’s party on an astonishing 70 seats out of the available 129 at the Scottish Parliament – one more than they secured in 2011.

The SNP are on 53 per cent in the constituencies and 43 per cent in the regions. The Greens are on 11 per cent, which would mean a ­breakthrough of 12 seats.

The Lib Dems are polling seven per cent in both ballots, which would see them raise their number of MSPs from five to six.

READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon rules out cheesy pasta tax if she wins election

But it is the once unimaginable idea that the Tories could overtake Labour in Scotland that is the most stark finding.

Dugdale may take a crumb of comfort from findings that more Scots want Labour to come second – and a majority believe they will.

We asked voters to assume the SNP will win the election and asked who they wanted to come second.

Labour were the choice of 38 per cent of voters, with Tories on 21 per cent. Meanwhile, 58 per cent think Labour will come second, with only 21 per cent believing Davidson can pull off an astonishing victory.

Polling expert Professor John Curtice said: “Despite Kezia ­Dugdale’s efforts, today’s poll shows Labour have still not shaken off the Tory challenge for second place, let alone narrowed the gap on the SNP.

“The Labour leader’s popularity has fallen during the campaign and she still trails Ruth Davidson so far as personal ratings are concerned.

“However, among those who have still to make up their minds which way to vote, far more would prefer to see Labour come second than the Conservatives. Ms Dugdale has to hope that some of them will come to her rescue.”

READ MORE: Tory leader Ruth Davidson pledges to break Labour and SNP stranglehold in Holyrood

Scottish Labour launch their ­election manifesto next week.

A spokesman said: “The big choice is about which party will use the new powers of the Scottish Parliament to stop the cuts. Ruth Davidson’s plan for hidden tax rises on students and the sick is the wrong choice for Scotland.”

But the Tories sounded confident they could keep the advantage.

A spokesman said: “With less than two weeks to go until polling, Ruth’s message to people is that in return for your vote, she’ll hold the SNP to account and stand up against Nicola Sturgeon’s utterly unjustified attempt to take us back to the divisions of another ­independence referendum.”​

SNP campaign director John Swinney said: “This is yet another heartening poll for the SNP.

“But we take nothing for granted and will work hard to win the trust of people across Scotland over the coming days.”

● Survation polled 1005 Scots aged over 16 between April 15 and 20.