Pressure on McDowell to rejuvenate PDs before election

MICHAEL McDowell will move quickly to shore up support for the Progressive Democrats by focusing on a small number of eye-catching and important issues in the lead-up to next year’s General Election.

While the latest opinion poll showing support for the party at 4% will give some encouragement to the new PD leader, he knows that the party needs to rejuvenate its message and image if it is to retain its eight seats in the Dáil.

Yesterday’s Millward Brown IMS poll for the Sunday Tribune gave a boost to the government parties, showing Fianna Fáil at 37% and the PDs at 4%.

The Fine Gael recovery is continuing, according to the poll. Its support level is now 26%, in broad agreement with other recent polls.

However, Labour support remains at 12%, though the party remains very popular in Dublin, where 15% of those polled said they would vote for the party.

However, the combined total (28%) of the ‘alternative government’ is lagging three points behind that of the two Government parties (41%). This poll again demonstrates that the 5% support level for the Green Party could be crucial in determining the identity of the next government.

Up until 18 months ago, Sinn Féin looked like it would be in a position to make big gains. But the 8% support level brings it back to near its 2002 mark, and would be unlikely to bring the extra five seats that it expects to win next year.

The Irish Examiner understands that Michael McDowell will move quickly to establish his brand of leadership to recover his party’s flagging support.

The new leader will borrow some of the thinking from Fine Gael’s electoral platform.

At his party’s Árd Fheis this year, Enda Kenny declared that FG would concentrate on three major issues next summer — health, crime and value for money.

Mr McDowell will select a small number of issues that are key to the Progressive Democrats and will campaign on those issues.

Yesterday, influential PD figure, Paul Mackay, rowed in behind the type of leadership that Mr McDowell will bring.

Mr Mackay, a founder of the party and one of its trustees, said that Mary Harney’s decision to step down was the right decision for her, and for the party.

“The party has been drifting for the past while. It thinks it needs a change. It needs a person with a bit of hunger and ability and energy. I believe Michael McDowell is the right person to do that.”