Boyd-Barrett: 'Fear factor' resulted in Yes vote

Richard Boyd-Barrett, People Before Profit TD and outspoken anti-treaty campaigner, has said people accepted the new Fiscal Treaty out of fear.

It comes as senior figures from both sides of the campaign claim that Ireland has passed the European treaty.

“It looks like a Yes vote. I think people are hoping things won’t get any worse. The fear factor, I think, prevailed,” he said.

“But I think it’s quite socially polarised. The manual working- class areas have voted highly No because the people have been the biggest victims of austerity. They have rejected the Government’s advice.

“The middle classes, in the hope that things won’t get any worse, have voted with the Government and with the establishment.

“I think the people who voted Yes didn’t do so with enthusiasm, but voted Yes in the hope things won’t get any worse.”