Opposition parties plan strategies for year ahead

THE Government’s calamitous performance in the latest opinion will be latched onto today as opposition parties gather for think-ins ahead of the new political season.

But while both Fine Gael and Labour are holding their parliamentary party conferences ahead of the new political season, the parties will be forced to consider why they are failing to make significant gains from the Government’s lack of popularity. Both seminars are predominantly aimed at planning strategies for the year ahead. The focus will also clearly be on next year’s elections as in Killarney, Fine Gael will unveil its strategy for the local and European votes, and in Wexford, Labour will finalise plans for a national recruitment campaign.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny will home in on the troubled condition of the economy this evening when he addresses his party’s TDs and senators. While Mr Kenny’s support within the party remains solid, he continues to flag in the opinion polls as his personal satisfaction ratings have dropped to just 26%.