First Minister John Swinney has said he is committed to his role as SNP leader regardless of the result on Thursday.

Opinion polls suggest the party could drop a substantial number of seats with Labour the most likely beneficiaries, with the two battling to be the largest party in Scotland after the General Election.

But Mr Swinney, who took on the role just eight weeks ago after Humza Yousaf stood down, has said he plans to carry on into the 2026 Holyrood election and beyond.

He was asked BBC Radio Four's Today programme on Monday that if the SNP "took a really bad drubbing" at the general election if he would carry on as party leader. He was pressed if it would be time for "a fresh start" for the party.

"I became leader of the SNP eight weeks ago today and I came into leadership in the SNP to bring my party together and to bring my country together," he replied.

READ MORE: BBC's Kuenssberg in stitches at SNP leader's joke on live TV

"I committed to do that for the long term, I committed to that task, to take my party well beyond the 2026 Scottish Parliament elections, and that's exactly what I intend to do."

If his party does manage to win at least 29 of Scotland's 57 seats at this election, that would be a mandate for negotiations with the UK Government over the holding of a referendum on Scottish independence, Mr Swinney has said.

He was asked if the party does not win a majority of seats on Thursday would he "let the matter lie" during the new parliament.

Mr Swinney responded: "I think what's important is that when this question was put to people in the 2021 [Holyrood] elections.

"We were we were told, 'go away and get a mandate for a referendum on independence if you want Scotland to be independent'. And we went away, and today, there is a parliamentary majority in the Scottish Parliament that supports Scottish independence."

The First Minister's comments came as he campaigned in the north-east of Scotland with candidate Seamus Logan - who is fighting for the Aberdeenshire North and Moray East seat against embattled Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross.

READ MORE: Swinney restates independence vote mandate even if SNP lose

Ahead of his visit - where he highlighted the impact of Brexit - Mr Swinney said: "The result of the election in England is a foregone conclusion - Keir Starmer is going to be Prime Minister and he is going to carry on with the same broken politics and right-wing policies as the Tories.

"The only story left in this election is here in Scotland, where the result is on a knife-edge and where there is a real contest of ideas and values."

Elsewhere, the Scottish Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop urged Labour to repeal the Internal Market Act - which the Scottish Government has repeatedly dubbed a "power grab" - if the party wins power later this week.

READ MORE: Swinney welcomes Baillie comments on Scottish visa

The Supreme Court ruled in 2022 that Holyrood did not have the legal power to hold an independence referendum unilaterally with the power reserved to Westminster. It means that the Scottish Government would have to reach agreement with the UK Government before it could hold a legally binding referendum.

Polls suggest Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is set to become Prime Minister after polling day. But during a campaign visit to Scotland last month he ruled out agreeing to a new independence referendum even if the SNP win a majority of Scottish MPs on Thursday. 

Mr Swinney also took part on Monday morning on a 5 Live phone in, in which he was challenged on the SNP's record in government including on issues such as the NHS, ferries, and drug deaths.

Scottish Labour Deputy Leader Jackie Baillie said “The SNP is mired in chaos and failing in government – it cannot deliver for the people of Scotland.

“During this car crash phone in, John Swinney failed to defend the SNP’s woeful record which has left every institution in Scotland weaker and almost one in six Scots on an NHS waiting list.

“In this election, only one party is offering the change that Scotland needs and that is Scottish Labour.

“Labour will put an end to 14 years of Tory chaos and kickstart a decade of national renewal – boosting pay, cutting bills, creating jobs and renewing public services.

“This is an opportunity for change that Scotland cannot afford to miss.”

Meanwhile, a poll by the think tank More in Common points to Mr Swinney's approval ratings falling by 13 percentage points (from minus 2 to minus 15) among Scottish voters since the start of the general election campaign.

The research also suggests Labour is set to make significant gains in Scotland on Thursday, taking as many as 35 seats - up from one in 2019 the party won in 2019 with a second added in the Rutherglen by election last year.

It puts Labour ahead with a 5 point lead over the SNP and suggests Keir Starmer's party could be on course for more than a 15 point swing from the SNP since the last general election.

The poll shows Rishi Sunak's approval rating has dropped to minus 51 from minus 43, while Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar's has fallen from minus 8 to minus 14.

The poll did not include approval ratings for either Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross or SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn.

The poll was carried out by the think tank More in Common with field work conducted from June 24 to 28. A total of 1008 voters took part.