Backbenchers attack Ahern over first-time buyers’ grant

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern was stung by strong criticism from his own backbenchers yesterday over the removal of the first-time buyers’ grant.

Despite the concerns, none of the Fianna Fáil backbenchers who publicly expressed concern over Government cutbacks voted for a Labour Party motion calling for the scheme to be reinstated last night.

At a three-hour meeting of the FF parliamentary party meeting, some deputies claimed the cutback was a sign the party was moving away from its left-of -centre roots and being increasingly led by the “right-wing” policies of the Progressive Democrats.