Comments on: Why are Fianna Fail going on the Labour offensive?

By: Allen

Allen — Sun, 19 Nov 2006 18:32:09 +0000

Because Labour are the weakest link of the coalition. The last election it was Noonan. FF concentrated on Ahern vs. Noonan, and Harney vs. Quinn. On both counts the government won. Noonan and Quinn were both seen as unreliable. Kenny is a nice guy, and making a sneer of him doesn’t work. Some the emphasis is changing. It will between Cowen (with his big giveaway budget) and Joan Burton (who knows nothing about Finance). It will be about getting public sector workers out to vote for Ahern in charge again, because he has looked after them.
The weak point in Fianna Fail is the failure to control costs, corruption and infrastructure overruns. On each of these points FG is stronger than FF. Therefore the electorate need to reminded that FG won’t get in on their own – they will need the Labour party. And everybody remembers what happend the last time Labour were in power – widespread abuse of government facilities, at a time when the taxpayers were strecthed. So for this reason FF are focussing on the weakest link – the Labour front bench. Many of whom were involved in scandals, cost over runs and “jobs for friends” events.
And of course the public sector pay deals is another factor. The public sector will go out and vote fro FF, because Bertie looked after them.

By: Keith

Keith — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 12:37:48 +0000

I’d say FF think that if there are “alternative coalition” votes to be won, they’re going to come from Labour rather than FG. So, why pick a fight with FG that’s not going to take any votes to you?

By: Answering Adam - The FF/LAB Fightout at Irish Election

Answering Adam - The FF/LAB Fightout at Irish Election — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 12:36:08 +0000

[...] Adam asks why Fianna Fáil have been going on the offensive against Labour. Is it because they’re scared? Are they calling Rabbitte’s anti-coalition bluff? Or is it something else altogether? [...]

By: Adam Maguire

Adam Maguire — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 12:32:23 +0000

1) their voters are there for the taking if FF make enough noise, frightened off by the prospect of FG or some other aspect of policy. Recent polls suggest this might be the case.

Good point; I mean I personally would avoid voting for FF because it’s pretty much a vote for the PD’s too, so those thinking Labour might be turned off by a centre-right party like FG coming in on the bargain.

2) A labour party on 8-12% is a quieter ally in government than one on the crest of a wave at 20% there is room for ff to depress labour until they are just big enough to go into power

Well I’d take a slightly different view on that. For whatever reason the PD’s have had far more sway than their seat count would have suggested in both of the last two Governments, and Labour are likely (once they get their heads together) to poll higher than the PD’s did last time around… but there is an important balancing act for FF when it comes to Labour… too strong and they’ll carry FG into power, too weak and they’d leave FF with no-one to turn to.

By: Cian

Cian — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 12:25:08 +0000

Good question and two answers occur to me;
1) their voters are there for the taking if FF make enough noise, frightened off by the prospect of FG or some other aspect of policy. Recent polls suggest this might be the case.

2) A labour party on 8-12% is a quieter ally in government than one on the crest of a wave at 20% there is room for ff to depress labour until they are just big enough to go into power

two untestable theories but feel free to hatchet them