It’s more about blame game than end game

Gerard Howlin looks at the repercussions from the Meath-East by-election and argues that what matters more than who wins, is how the result compares to expectation

THE consequences are bigger than the prize as the votes in the Meath East by-election are counted today. What matters more than who wins, is how the result compares to expectation. The blame game may be far more fiercely fought than the campaign.

The biggest political spectacular that may occur is a Fianna Fáil win. The only other serious contender is Fine Gael. Until the last few days of the campaign wise heads with their feet on the ground said the seat was Fine Gael’s Helen McEntee’s to lose. Since the weekend there is a gathering view that Fianna Fáil’s Senator Thomas Byrne may just shade it.