Majority want election by end of year

MOST Irish voters want a general election before the end of the year, with barely a fifth prepared to return Brian Cowen as Taoiseach.

As both Mr Cowen and Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny last night faced open parliamentary revolt amid Labour’s surge in popularity, a new poll suggests only 21% want to see the Fianna Fáil leader back in office.

The 1,000 voters polled on Tuesday and Wednesday were not asked whether they would favour Labour’s Eamon Gilmore as Taoiseach but 40% said they did not support either Mr Cowen or Mr Kenny.