New polls show slump in support for Labour

Two opinion polls to be published tomorrow show a slide in support for Labour, and one shows Fianna Fáil just behind Fine Gael.

The polls also suggest voters think the country is on the wrong track and indicate substantial support for the introduction of abortion legislation.

In polls for the Sunday Times and Sunday Business Post Labour is down to 11% supoprt, well adrift of all the main parties.

In the Red C survey for the Sunday Business Post, Fine Gael remains unchanged on 28%, while the party falls four points to 26% in the Behaviour and Attitudes poll for the Sunday Times.

Meanwhile Fianna Fáil continues its recovery - up 1 percentage point to 21% in the Red C poll and up 2 points to 24% in the Times/B&A survey.

Sinn Féin also sees its support rise to 19% in both polls.

The Red C poll, taken among more than 1,000 voters nationwide last Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, also asked if the country was generally on the right track.

Some 56% per cent of voters who expressed an opinion said that the country was on the wrong track, with 44% saying it was on the right track.

Meanwhile the Times/B&A poll found majority support for the introduction of abortion where the life of the woman is at risk; where that risk is because of suicidal feelings; where the pregnancy is as a result of rape and where there is an abnormality and the baby cannot survive.

STATE OF THE PARTIES

Red C poll for The Sunday Business Post

Fine Gael: 28% (no change)

Labour: 11% (-3%)

Fianna Fáil: 21% (+1%)

Sinn Féin: 19% (+2%)

Independents/others: 21% (no change)

Behaviour and Attitudes poll for the Sunday Times

Fine Gael: 26% (-4%)

Labour: 11% (-1%)

Fianna Fáil: 24% (+2%)

Sinn Féin: 19% (+5%)

Independents/others: 21% (-1%)