Waterford: Labour admits ‘middle-to-low income earners have no more to give’

Sinn Féin were the big winners in Waterford, claiming six seats on the amalgamated Waterford City and County Council, while Labour were the major casualties, with four high-profile sitting councillors losing out.

Dungarvan-based John Pratt claimed the sole Labour seat in Waterford while five of his party colleagues were defeated. Ger Barron, a county councillor since 1999, and city councillors Seamus Ryan, Jack Walsh, and Dee Jacques all relinquished their seats.

Mr Pratt said he believed the party had made “mistakes” and austerity measures had damaged the party. “I feel the middle-to-low earners have no more to give,” he said. “It’s time to help them out in any way that we can. We need to re-look at what we can do in order to pay them back.”