Labour conference - Siding with FF best bet for power

IF the most crucial annual conference in Labour’s recent history signalled anything, it was the party’s determination to convince voters it would be a safe pair of hands in any alternative government.

Like its counterpart in Britain, the party is seeking to take the centre ground of Irish politics. With this in mind, Pat Rabbitte moved to assuage the fears of middle-class voters, assuring them Labour would not meddle with Ireland’s low-tax regime.

Not alone would Labour keep taxes down, he promised, they would pursue a policy of fair taxation rather than jacking taxes up.