Politics

Support for Fine Gael and Labour slumps in latest poll

Backing for Sinn Féin, Fianna Fáil and Independents rises as election day nears

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams (left) will be happiest with the latest opinion poll which show his party up three points. Enda Kenny’s Fine Gael saw its support fall by two points, Joan Burton’s Labour lost two points and Micheál Martin’s Fianna Fáil rose by a point. Photograph: Cyril Byrne/The Irish Times.
Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams (left) will be happiest with the latest opinion poll which show his party up three points. Enda Kenny’s Fine Gael saw its support fall by two points, Joan Burton’s Labour lost two points and Micheál Martin’s Fianna Fáil rose by a point. Photograph: Cyril Byrne/The Irish Times.
Sat Feb 13 2016 - 18:50

Support for Fine Gael and Labour has slumped in the latest opinion poll of the general election campaign.

The Red C tracking poll published in the Sunday Business Post shows support for Taoiseach Enda Kenny's party has fallen by three points to 28 per cent and Joan Burton saw her party's backing drop two points to 8 per cent.

With less than two weeks to election day, February 26th, Sinn Féin will be happiest with the poll as its support has risen by three points to 20 per cent, making it the second most popular party in the study.

Fianna Fáil gained one point, rising to 18 per cent, and Independents/others have the backing of more than a quarter of the electorate, with support rising one point to 26 per cent.

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The poll comes after the party leaders held their first debate of the campaign on Thursday and ahead of a second leaders’ debate on Monday night.

Election campaign

Campaigning continues around the country on Sunday with Fine Gael due to publish its election manifesto in Dublin.

Sinn Féin’s education spokesman Jonathan O’Brien is to announce the party’s education proposals.

Tánaiste Joan Burton and some of her Labour Party colleagues are to announce an advertising campaign.

Renua Ireland is to announce its proposals on tackling crime in Dublin.

The Right2Change group held a rally in Dublin on Saturday which was addressed by former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis.