The Sunday Independent’s View: Voters are fed up, but are they fed up enough to swing left?
The results of the latest Sunday Independent poll suggests that excitable predictions of the first majority left-wing government in the country’s history being formed after the next election may still be a trifle premature.
The winds should be blowing fair for any credible alternative government
At 64pc, the number of people who disapprove of how the current Government is doing its job has certainly gone up again, while satisfaction ratings for the humiliated leaders of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have both fallen sharply. Three-quarters think there was too little help given to ease the cost of living in the budget, and 82pc don’t have faith in the coalition’s handling of immigration. The winds should be blowing fair for any credible alternative government.
Instead, parties on the left are still strikingly failing to capitalise fully on voter dissatisfaction.
Sinn Féin has gone up by two points, and Labour and the Social Democrats by one point a piece, but it’s a relatively modest swing given the celebrations last weekend. There remains only the narrowest of gaps between those who, if forced to choose, would prefer a government fronted by FF and FG, and those who would back a broad left-leaning alliance led by Sinn Féin.
Supporters of that longed-for left unity will no doubt argue that it is early days yet, and that there is plenty of time to work out how to bring together in common cause the diverse forces which sent Catherine Connolly into the Áras.
Conferences are planned. Conversations are being had. Serious consideration must be given to maximising the vote transfers needed to pick up those crucial final seats.
The Galway West by-election will be the first real test of the ability of the motley crew behind this “new movement” to bury their differences rather than each other.
Disaffection is in the air. In Ireland, it seems that traditional caution still prevails
There must be some twinges of concern on their part all the same at today’s poll. Incumbent governments of all stamps are in trouble around the world. Disaffection is in the air. In Ireland, it seems that traditional caution still prevails.
If many voters do not see a credible alternative to the status quo, then the blame must lie with those offering radical change for not providing one, not least when the issues which people consistently identify as their top priorities (housing, the cost of living, healthcare) are the very ones where the left should be romping home.
Could it be that self-styled progressive politicians are still spending a disproportionate amount of their time talking animatedly about issues which few people prioritise in this poll?
A mere 1pc of respondents rated Irish unity among the top two issues facing the country. The war in Gaza was named by only 4pc. Both loomed large in the recent presidential campaign; but when it comes to choosing a government rather than a symbolic figurehead, the left in Ireland clearly still has a considerable way to go before persuading a weary country that they have viable solutions to offer to people’s problems as well as fine-sounding slogans.
Neglecting to do so yet again would be a dereliction of duty as well as a failure of opportunity.
