Rabbitte won't rule out deal with Fianna Fáil

[Maximus]

Labour Leader Pat Rabbitte has again refused to categorically rule out a post-election deal with Fianna Fail.

When queried yesterday about an Irish Independent poll showing three out of five people do not believe him when he says he will not go into Coalition with Fianna Fail, Rabbitte said: "I am not offering a Fianna Fail-Labour Government." But refused to be drawn on post-election scenarios.

Pressed later on RTE Radio, Mr Rabbitte again spoke of offering voters an alternative, but avoided discussing what might happen after election day. He said people who doubted him when he said he had no intention of going into government with Fianna Fail would just "have to wait and see".

<< I guess we'll all just have to wait and see! :wink: >>

[TheBear]

That's because Rabbitte doesn't have final say. You know quite well that any coalition would have to be put to the membership of the party, so please stop spinning.

[ON THE ONE ROAD]

he's right not to. Do labour owe FG charity or something. There should be no moral obligation tyeing labour to FG, if there is, the leadership of labour have made some tactical error along the way

[President Bartlet]

If it means getting into govt of course Rabbitte will jump into bed with them

[Maximus]

That's because Rabbitte doesn't have final say. You know quite well that any coalition would have to be put to the membership of the party, so please stop spinning.

Ahh Bear they havent gotten you too?

The truth is the only one spinning is Rabbitte – he’s trying to hedge his bets to ensure he has a merc under his ass next June.

[The Analyser]

He actually said on the 9 O'Clock News that he wants to ensure Ahern is sent to the Opposition benches. But as usual, Maximus left that bit out.

[hiding behind a poster]

Labour Leader Pat Rabbitte has again refused to categorically rule out a post-election deal with Fianna Fail.

When queried yesterday about an Irish Independent poll showing three out of five people do not believe him when he says he will not go into Coalition with Fianna Fail, Rabbitte said: "I am not offering a Fianna Fail-Labour Government." But refused to be drawn on post-election scenarios.

Pressed later on RTE Radio, Mr Rabbitte again spoke of offering voters an alternative, but avoided discussing what might happen after election day. He said people who doubted him when he said he had no intention of going into government with Fianna Fail would just "have to wait and see".

<< I guess we'll all just have to wait and see! :wink: >>

Maximus, the only way Labour can enter a coalition with anyone is if its endorsed by a special delegate conference. And the only person who can put a motion recommending coalition to that conference is the party leader. And the party leader has said that he will NOT be making such a recommendation. Got it?

[Fr. Hank Tree]

He'll rule it out closer to the election, when it's clear that FG Lab and the Greens will have a big enough proportion of the vote...

[Maximus]

He actually said on the 9 O'Clock News that he wants to ensure Ahern is sent to the Opposition benches. But as usual, Maximus left that bit out.

Alas I missed the 9 o'clock news - was out doing a spot of canvassing!

I just reported what the Indo said Analyser - don’t go shooting the messenger.

Rabbitte might want to put the Taoiseach on the back benches but I’d bet he’ll put him back in a merc if it means he'll get one too!

[ON THE ONE ROAD]

why so quick to jump in with FG and away from FF. If FG had the chance is there any thing they'd have done differently. Labour should do what suits them they owe FG nothing, in fact it's probabley the other way around.