Spin doctors fail to heal cutbacks

THE Coalition’s electoral manifesto was founded on the mantra “a lot done — more to do” but its performance since then could aptly be described as “a lot spun — more to hew” as the Government continues to engage in machete economics.

After a year in office, yesterday's bid by the Coalition to defend its record was an unashamed example of a public relations whitewash more likely to convince the party faithful than a jaundiced electorate which increasingly feels it has been hoodwinked.

The hand of the spin doctor can be detected in the pages of the "success" report issued by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Tánaiste Mary Harney in a bid to offset the public perception that people were conned into voting for the Coalition on the basis of promises long since diluted or broken.