Greens did ‘not scupper’ alternative government

THE Green Party has not scuppered the chances of an alternative Government by voting against a pre-election pact with Labour and Fine Gael, their leader Trevor Sargent insisted yesterday.

The party voted overwhelmingly not to enter a pre-election pact at its annual convention in Cork at the weekend because it wants to maximise the number of seats it can win in the next general election and not compromise its policies.

Mr Sargent said he was not stunned at the overwhelming vote against a pre-election pact because there was a huge reluctance within the party to enter one.