Labour are making hard work of Joan’s popularity

TO paraphrase that great left-wing political philosopher, Pink: “Joan’s coming up, but she’s yet to get the party started.”

Ms Burton has bounced her way to most popular party leader in the country, but Labour is still limping far behind her, on just 9%, which, given the margin of error in such surveys, means it could still be on the miserable 6% achieved in the May elections.

And while Ms Burton has nudged ahead of Sinn Féin’s Gerry Adams in popularity, her 37% approval rating is hardly spectacular, so what’s a Joan to do?