Deception may put Yes vote at risk

REVELATIONS that the Coalition has put contentious plans for regional development on ice until after the Nice Referendum are a telling reflection of the depth of concern in Government circles about the outcome of next month’s crucial vote.

While a spokesman may have described yesterday’s Cabinet meeting as routine, we can be sure the minds of ministers were keenly focused on the fate of Nice and especially on how the outcome could yet be the decided by mounting public anger over the misleading picture of the economy depicted by the Government before the general election.

Despite all the clamour, the man at the centre of the row, Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy, has reacted to criticism with characteristic stubbornness, flatly denying claims the public was deceived and rejecting calls for his resignation.