Nicola Sturgeon has said she is taking nothing for granted in the run-up to the Holyrood election as she urged supporters to get out and vote.
The First Minister and SNP leader issued the rallying call as a new poll showed that while her party maintains a commanding lead over its rivals, support has fallen slightly.
With seven days until the vote on May 5, the TNS research put backing for the party on the constituency vote at 52% – down eight points from the 60% recorded two months ago.
Speaking on a visit to South Queensferry, Ms Sturgeon said her party’s campaign would “step up a gear” as it enters its final week.
She was joined by depute leader Stewart Hosie and campaign director John Swinney before they set off in separate people carriers for a last push for votes across Scotland.
The trio will tour target seats, with Ms Sturgeon starting her final week of campaigning in Edinburgh West, Mr Swinney heading to Dumbarton and Mr Hosie driving north.
Ms Sturgeon said: “I sometimes feel as if I’m the only party leader that hasn’t already decided the outcome of this election.
“If people want an SNP government they can’t just cross their fingers and hope for that, it’s vital that they get out next Thursday and vote for that, and vote for that on both ballot papers.
“That’s what this election is about. It’s not a battle for second place, it’s a decision about who leads the country for the next five years.
“If you want that to be the SNP, if you want that to be me as first minister, then it’s absolutely essential that you cast both of your votes for the SNP.
“We’ve got a healthy lead in the polls, and I think that’s encouraging, but I take nothing for granted and that’s why the SNP campaign will simply step up a gear as we go into the final week, campaigning hard for every single vote across the country.”
