Electoral tide goes out for Labour

The pounding inflicted on Labour by an angry electorate was of such shock and awe proportions it even forced senior figures out of the bunker of victimhood they have locked themselves in for the past two years.

This downbeat world view was best exemplified by Education Minister Ruairi Quinn when he whined last week that Labour took 19% of the vote at the last general election, but 81% of the blame for what came after.

Labour has tried to have it all ways since going into power. When it wants to claim credit for something it insists it is part of a “national government” of the two biggest parties, when it is embarrassed by something, suddenly it bleats it is the junior partner and cannot be held responsible.