People and Politics by Patrick Roberts

Historic poll as Labour Party now most popular in Ireland

Posted on Thursday, June 10, 2010 at 10:20 PM

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The Irish Labour party is now the largest party in Ireland a sensational new poll has revealed.

It is the first time in the history of the state that Labour has polled as the largest party.

The Irish Times poll shows that Labour are on 32 per cent, up eight from the last poll in January, Fine Gael are on 28 per cent down four points and Fianna Fail are back on 17 per cent, their lowest showing ever.

Labor's surge is down to party leader Eamon Gilmore who is far more popular than either Prime Minister Brian Cowen or Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny.

Gilmore is at 46 per cent approval, while Kenny is at just 24 per cent and Cowen is on 18 per cent.

If the current trend were followed in a national election, Labour wold sweep into power and Gilmore would be the first ever Labor leader elected Prime Minster.

Other parties results showed a small rise for Sinn Fein to nine per cent, the junior party in the government the Greens at 3 per cent, and independents around seven per cent.

The combined government vote is now just 20 per cent which appears to make it unlikely the government can last through to 2012 when the life of the current parliament will be over.

Indeed, Fine Gael have a motion of no confidence in the government laid down for Tuesday.

It is considered unlikely to succeed.

Fine Gael, which have long been considered the government in waiting will be bitterly disappointed with this poll result.

It will raise further questions about party leader Enda Kenny who has fallen dramatically in popularity between polls

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kateomprint | Jul 22, 2010, 12:21 PM EDT

True we don't have a prime minister we have An Taoiseach (fool by any other name) It is easy for Labour Party to talk but they don't seem to give any answers to the problems we have. We have another budget on the way in which the Government have to make cuts of 7.5 billion over the next four years. The next budget will have to cut 3.5 in spending. Give a guess everybody who is going to suffer the most.

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Searlit | Jun 14, 2010, 10:59 AM EDT

Bank-bailouts, lies and empty rhetoric have lost favor across the globe, as well.

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FastEddy | Jun 14, 2010, 09:33 AM EDT

" ... Labor Party now most popular in Ireland " ... LOL, " 'been down so long it looks like up to me."

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dessieglynn | Jun 11, 2010, 07:36 PM EDT

Ireland does not have a Prime Minister.!!!!!!

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