Ireland’s difficulty becomes Labour’s opportunity

“IRELAND’S difficulty is Labour’s opportunity” was how one delegate bluntly summed up the twin challenges facing the party.

It must transform a dislocated, but real, sense of anger with the Government into a positive reason for voters to lift Labour out of what has become its default position of opposition, while also presenting a credible exit strategy out of the economic crisis.

The volatility of the opinion polls shows the sudden upsurge in Labour support is softer than it at first appeared. It should also be remembered that Pat Rabbitte took the party into the low twenties after he became leader, only to see Labour register barely 10% at the last general election as it lost vote share for the third time in a row.