Balance of power

[evercloserunion]

With the rise in support for FG/Lab and decline in support for FF, who nevertheless retain a large portion of the vote, comes the chance that Labour will hold the balance of power after the next election.

So what's the plan in the event if this happening? Is a coalition with FF definitely out of the question? Or would the party be willing to pit FF and FG against each other to maximize gain?

[red-365]

With the rise in support for FG/Lab and decline in support for FF, who nevertheless retain a large portion of the vote, comes the chance that Labour will hold the balance of power after the next election.

So what's the plan in the event if this happening? Is a coalition with FF definitely out of the question? Or would the party be willing to pit FF and FG against each other to maximize gain?

Doesn't matter to Labour who their junior partner is!

[DeathKnell]

If Labour put FF back in when they have the chance of going with FG.. I doubt they will EVER be forgiven by the 70% of this country who are anyone but FF..

We can see the FF support falling away into the right and left.. Most of that will goto Labour as many have a gentic distatse for FG and vice versa..

[red-365]

If Labour put FF back in when they have the chance of going with FG.. I doubt they will EVER be forgiven by the 70% of this country who are anyone but FF..

We can see the FF support falling away into the right and left.. Most of that will goto Labour as many have a gentic distatse for FG and vice versa..

Are you saying that Labour should make a definitive statement now on who they will go into Govt with?

[L.O. Dublin S.C.]

Doesn't matter to Labour who their junior partner is!

End right-wing government.

Eamon Gilmore for Taoiseach!!!!

[fiannafuddy]

Either FF or FG will eventually have to give way to becoming the 3rd party of the Oireachtas. It's the only way policy differentiation can be central to the electorate's choice in the polling booth.

I'd prefer it to be FG, and while I was spot on on the FF seat numbers for the last election, I massively overestimated Labour's ability to outstrip FG. The reason Labour didn't gain seats in 2007 was it's pact with FG which involved Labour promoting FG for it's second preferences and getting nothing in return.

Gilmore would be a very foolish man to enter the next election with anything other than a distinctively individual manifesto that is open to government with either of the 2 parties, or Single party government. Thing is Labour probably couldn't field enough candidates to gain a decisive majority on it's own, but it would be interesting to see a Labour SPG.

Coalition is overrated and characterised by damaging compromise.

[Simbo67]

Either FF or FG will eventually have to give way to becoming the 3rd party of the Oireachtas. It's the only way policy differentiation can be central to the electorate's choice in the polling booth.

I'd prefer it to be FG, and while I was spot on on the FF seat numbers for the last election, I massively overestimated Labour's ability to outstrip FG. The reason Labour didn't gain seats in 2007 was it's pact with FG which involved Labour promoting FG for it's second preferences and getting nothing in return.

Gilmore would be a very foolish man to enter the next election with anything other than a distinctively individual manifesto that is open to government with either of the 2 parties, or Single party government. Thing is Labour probably couldn't field enough candidates to gain a decisive majority on it's own, but it would be interesting to see a Labour SPG.

Coalition is overrated and characterised by damaging compromise.

You suffer from some deep delusions!
Firstly you suggest that labour probably couldn't find enough candidates to gain a decisive majority on its own. How about them not getting enough votes!
In the last two elections they have been stuck on 10% (the 2002 election had 25 Fine Gael seats floating around and they couldn't pick up one net, the last election they actually lost one). I know you are really trying to propose a FF/Lab government but you know that labour would get killed next time if they prop up FF in government again. There is also the possibility that if FF fall below 50-55 seats, they wont have enough votes to form government with labour (just going on present poll numbers).

[White Horse]

With the rise in support for FG/Lab and decline in support for FF, who nevertheless retain a large portion of the vote, comes the chance that Labour will hold the balance of power after the next election.

So what's the plan in the event if this happening? Is a coalition with FF definitely out of the question? Or would the party be willing to pit FF and FG against each other to maximize gain?

If Labour play the "balance of power game", they will lose support.

The country is very anti FF at the moment.

They should nail their colours to the mast of an alternative government, and argue for Labour to compose a large part of that government.

The electorate will not tolerate political opportunism in the midst of an economic meltdown.

[Question R24U]

With the rise in support for FG/Lab and decline in support for FF, who nevertheless retain a large portion of the vote, comes the chance that Labour will hold the balance of power after the next election.

So what's the plan in the event if this happening? Is a coalition with FF definitely out of the question? Or would the party be willing to pit FF and FG against each other to maximize gain?

After the next election labour will exclusively hold the balance of power between the big two. labour will hint that it prefers to work with FG but will not rule out FF. It will negotiate with both. Opt for Fine Gael, then cross the floor half way through to get more cabinet seats.I just hope that FF stay with the greens for as long as possible. I do not want labour anywhere near government until FF have taken the tough decisions (any day now).

[Simbo67]

After the next election labour will exclusively hold the balance of power between the big two. labour will hint that it prefers to work with FG but will not rule out FF. It will negotiate with both. Opt for Fine Gael, then cross the floor half way through to get more cabinet seats.I just hope that FF stay with the greens for as long as possible. I do not want labour anywhere near government until FF have taken the tough decisions (any day now).

I am not sure the country can wait any longer for that strange day when this government will take a hard decision