POLL SHOCKER AS LABOUR
BEATS FIANNA FÁIL
INTO THIRD PLACE:
A new opinion poll to be published in the “Irish Times” today provides devastating news for Taoiseach, Brian “Biffo” Cowen’s shambling Government as his party, Fianna Fáil, is pushed into third place by surging support for the Irish Labour Party and its leader, Éamonn Gilmore, T.D.
The historic results, which have Labour in the lead over Fianna Fáil for the first time in the history of the Republic show the government party at 22%, its lowest rating since the party was founded by Éamonn DeValera in 1926. Labour, at 24%, has gained 10% since the last poll in January in an astonishing turnaround which will have profound affects on the Irish political scene in this year of Local Government and European Parliament elections in June. Labour leader Gilmore is also the most popular leader in the Dáil with 44%, compared to Taoiseach Cowen’s 24% and Fine Gael leader, Enda Kenny at 30%.
Political commentators and politicians alike have been stunned by the shock results and the rapid and catastrophic decline in support for a Government only a year and a half into its five year term. Gilmore’s strong performance in Dáil Éireann backed by finance spokesperson, Joan Burton, has obviously resonated strongly with the public in comparison with the Two Brians, Cowen and Lenihan, bungling and hamfisted attempts to deal with the worst financial crisis in a century with delinquent banks, soaring job losses and a speculative property bubble which Cowen facilitated as Finance Minister for four years.
Labour has now the opportunity, with determined action and political courage to increase its support even further and detach forever from FF their unjustified and merely populist support among working class voters as their vicious attacks on workers standards of living has been their only response to the severe economic deterioration their failed policies have brought about.
The massive, and undoubtedly also of historic proportions, workers demonstration in Dublin on 21 Feabhra/ February next is one such opportunity where the Labour leadership can show their mettle in a very public way and initiate the greatest change in Irish politics since the state was founded. The fine example of the founder of the Labour Party, James Connolly, in taking his place as Commandant General of the forces of the Irish Republic in 1916 comes to mind.
FearFeasa Mac Léinn
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