Labour voted for austerity, Quinn tells members

Veteran Labour heavyweight Rúairí Quinn had a blunt message for rank-and-file party members angry at the Coalition’s austerity agenda: Blame yourselves, you voted for it.

In what was being seen as a widening of the divide between Labour’s five ministers and the rest of the party, Mr Quinn brushed aside criticism of the leadership, insisting that the Programme for Government had been backed by 90% of delegates at a special post-election convention two years ago.

After pleas by Labour ministers for a re-negotiation of the programme in the aftermath of the party’s humiliating showing in the Meath East by-election were publicly slapped-down by Taoiseach Enda Kenny of Fine Gael, Mr Quinn indicated that it was now off the agenda.