Fine Gael TD doubts Labour’s 30-seat claim

THE first cracks in the rainbow parties’ election strategy emerged last night as a Fine Gael TD questioned Labour’s claim it could take 30 seats.

Waterford Deputy John Deasy predicted Labour would only make two gains nationally, taking its tally to 23 in the next Dáil.

The comments will anger Labour strategists who have been working closely with FG high command to talk up both parties’ “battleground” gains at the looming general election.

Mr Deasy also predicted Fine Gael would gain “20 plus” seats in the next Dáil, but Labour’s chances presented a “difficulty” for the pact.

“Fine Gael is going to have a very good election. I’m not so sure about Labour. I am not convinced about Labour’s ability to win more than two seats nationally — that’s where I have a problem,” Mr Deasy told WLR FM radio.

“I think we are going to win upwards of 20 seats and plus if the momentum keeps going. The difficulty I see is with that Labour vote,” he added.

Mr Deasy stressed Labour and FG were embracing each other “positively” and he expected poll ratings for the rainbow alternative to pick-up once the new Dáil session begins next week.

The Waterford TD warned the public is “bored already” by the longest de-facto election campaign in Irish history but it would produce a tight result.

“We are moving in the right direction and that’s all that really matters,” he said.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny has predicted the party will make 30 gains at the election, expected in May or June.

The party needs its pact partner Labour to make strong gains as well if the two have any chance of forming a Government.

Labour hopes took a battering this week when an Examiner/Lansdowne poll showed the party slumping back two points to 10%, slightly below their position at the last election and way below the 15% they say they need to reach 30 seats.

A Labour party spokesman dismissed Mr Deasy’s predictions.

“This is just his personal view. Fine Gael electoral strategists expressed a very different view at the party’s meeting in Sligo last week,” he said.