Labour leader claims vote for an Independent candidate ‘often a vote for more of the same’

A vote for an Independent candidate is “is often a vote for more of the same”, Labour leader Ivana Bacik has claimed as she made her pitch to the electorate to back her party in Friday’s Local and European Elections.

Her remarks come as recent polls suggest Independents could receive almost a quarter of the public’s support on election day. Both the Labour Party and People Before Profit made the case on Wednesday for their own parties as opposed to independent candidates.

Last month’s Irish Times/Ipsos B & poll put the support of Independents and other parties at 23 per cent when it comes to those intending to vote in the Local Election.

The Labour Party was at 6 per cent in the same poll.

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A Sunday Independent/Ireland Thinks poll put Independents and others at 23 per cent overall and Labour on 3 per cent.

At her party’s last press conference before the election Ms Bacik said voters know what they’re getting when they support her party.

Ms Bacik argued that this contrasts “starkly” with independent candidates

She said: “Far too many people it seems are thinking of voting independent because they’re looking for change without, I think, looking at the reality that a vote for an independent is often a vote for more of the same.”

[ ‘Think more about Crumlin and not the Kremlin’: Five takeaways from European election Dublin debate ]

She gave the example of Labour’s defeated Dáil motion of no confidence in the Government last year which was tabled over the decision to lift the no-fault eviction ban.

She said the Coalition “was supported by a whole range of independents”.

Ms Bacik added: “what we’re saying in this election is vote Labour because we stand for a constructive and positive message of change.”

The Labour Party is running 109 candidates in the Local Election and Ms Bacik said it is hoping to make gains on the 55 seats it currently holds.

She did not specify a precise target.

Its European Election candidates are Aodhán Ó Ríordáin in Dublin, Fergal Landy in Midlands Northwest and Niamh Hourigan in the South constituency.

Mr Ó Ríordáin said Labour is putting forward a “different vision of Europe” and said it is a party that does not “pander” to regressive or anti-immigrant forces.

At their final election press conference, People Before Profit also targeted Independent candidates and pointed out that a number of Independent TDs previously declined to vote no confidence in motions against Government Ministers.

Dublin South West TD Paul Murphy said a feature of polling in this election campaign has been the rise in support for Independents. “The driving reason behind that is a correct disillusionment and opposition to the political establishment and the Government as well as a growing sense that Sinn Féin is preparing for power, prepared to do deals with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael and flip-flopping on various issues.”

[ How’s the election going? Harris effect, Sinn Féin wobble and a peculiar public mood a week out ]

“But we want to send a message to people to beware the sheep in wolves clothing when it comes to Independents. Very many of them are simply Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil politicians temporarily on the loose. A huge proportion are former Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil politicians. Independents at both local level and national level have a track record of not opposing the Government.”

Mr Murphy said “in many ways, we are the real Independents in this election”.

People Before Profit Dublin MEP candidate Bríd Smith said there are “the odd genuine ones around who use that title (of Independent) but the title has been over-used in this election.”

Dún Laoghaire TD Richard Boyd Barrett was asked, however, if People Before Profit actually want to be in government, given his party’s decision to rule out ever going into government with Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil. “Our priority is to actually change things in the interests of ordinary working people. That’s our priority. We want to be in a government that changes things but we don’t want to be in government for the sake of it if being in that government means you prop up the status quo.”

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