Labour blame regional support for poor poll performance

The Labour leader Pat Rabbitte is blaming his party's lack of strength in Connacht and the border counties for its showing in the latest opinion polls.

Labour polled 12% in the Sunday Independent survey and 11% in the Sunday Business Post poll.

That is in line with Labour's performance in the 2002 General Election but Mr Rabbitte said the party would make up ground in other parts of the country.