FF makes modest recovery at Labour’s expense

FIANNA FÁIL has seen a modest recovery in fortunes in the past month, enough to make it the second most popular party in the country ahead of Labour.

But Fine Gael remains comfortably ahead in first place, although its support levels have dipped several points since the February general election.

The Sunday Business Post-Red C poll shows Fine Gael on 32%, an increase of a single point since the previous poll in the series at the end of October.

Fianna Fáil is up four points to 18%, putting it ahead of Labour, which is down two to 15%.

Sinn Féin is also on 15%, down one point since last month. Independents and others are down two to 20%.

The margin of error is plus or minus 3%, meaning Fianna Fáil’s increase is the only statistically significant move over the last month.

A comparison with February’s general election results gives a better indication of how the Government parties have fared since taking office and Fianna Fáil since its electoral meltdown.

Fine Gael polled 36% in February, and is now down to 32%, indicating that it has lost some popularity while in office. The same is true of Labour, which polled 19% in February and is now down to 15%.

Fianna Fáil polled 17% in the election and saw its ratings continue to fall up to the end of October, only to make a recovery in recent weeks which has pushed it to 18%.

Sinn Féin polled 10% in February and is now on 15%, indicating it has performed well in Opposition.