Labour TDs feel ‘manipulated’

LABOUR TDs are heading into next week’s budget feeling “used and nervous,” backbenchers warn.

Some believe that the leadership deliberately “manipulated” them and the public over the issue of cutting child benefit in order to deflect attention away from pilling on costs for students.

Speaking after yesterday’s pre-budget meeting of Labour TDs and Senators, one prominent deputy said: “The threat to child benefit now seems like a kite-flying exercise to draw attention away from piling up student fees and charges.

“The leadership used us by switching attention away from that to something we value even more — child benefit.”

Another TD expressed concern at what is to come in the showpiece financial statements next Monday and Tuesday, saying: “We are all nervous about what is going to be in it. The parliamentary meeting went smoothly, and was less tense than last week’s, but I’d say a lot of us are nervous. We still don’t really know what’s going to be in the budget yet.”

One TD said that their was a general mood at the meeting that leaks in recent weeks on issues such as child benefit and potential cuts to dole payments had been “very counter-productive” and gone down badly in the party and among voters and that view had been accepted by party leader Eamon Gilmore.

Labour chiefs presented the fact that Public Sector Reform Minister Brendan Howlin will effectively present half the budget as it is spread over two days as a signal of Labour’s influence in the Coalition.

However, some TDs privately expressed fears that the split could make it look like Labour was the partner pushing the spending cuts agenda when Mr Howlin announces that side of the budget on Monday, with Finance Minister Michael Noonan unveiling the rest of the fiscal package the following day.

The Labour meeting was much calmer than one last week which followed Enda Kenny’s comments in the Dáil that he intended to “make an honest man” of Mr Gilmore.