Fine Gael loses ground in latest opinion poll

Support for Fine Gael has fallen back, according to the results of the latest national opinion poll.

The Red C poll commissioned by Paddy Power saw support for Enda Kenny’s party fall by three percentage points to 28%.

Coalition colleagues Labour will welcome improved 9% first preference votes, up 2 percentage points from similar polls in recent months.

Fianna Fáil are on 20% first preference support, up by a single point since November. Sinn Fein are unchanged on 18% support, the same as was seen in a similar poll taken two weeks ago.

Independent candidates and other parties then secure 25% of the first preference vote.

Independent candidates themselves secured 15%, two points of which attributed towards the Independent Alliance candidates. PBP-AAA secure 4%, Social Democrats 3%, Greens 2% and Renua 1%.

This graphic from RedC might explain the confusion. The 'official' results (second-last column) are a new feature pic.twitter.com/essilOlY5F

— Gavan Reilly (@gavreilly) December 3, 2015

“Our analysis of strength of voter support is interesting in as much that it suggests there is still a lot to play for between now and the General Election, with absolute loyal support for each party only in the low teens for most,” said a Paddy Power statement.

“Fine Gael have the potential to increase this as much as 39%, but at the same time Labour has 25% possible first preference support, Fianna Fail 28% and Sinn Fein 26%, suggesting a very fluid electorate.

“Perhaps a more clear measure of future behaviour is the voters perceptions on the coalition that would be best for Ireland, in which it is clear that the largest grouping (43%) would like to see the current coalition back in government, but with many of these (26%) suggesting that this should be with the support of Independent candidates.

“While the drop is within the margin of error, Fine Gael will be disappointed to see what had been a consistent upward trend come to an end.”