Spotlight on Cowen after Labour surge

DISGRUNTLED Fianna Fáil backbenchers have held a meeting with an opinion polling company and asked whether the leadership was dragging down support for the rest of the party.

Deputies met with the Red C group, who carried out a poll for yesterday’s Sunday Business Post which showed Fianna Fáil is on course to lose up to 30 seats in the next election.

When the professional pollsters met concerned Fianna Fáil deputies last week, Mayo TD Beverly Flynn asked about the importance of the leadership in terms of impact on the party’s popularity.