FF will reassess election strategy

THE battle lines are drawn for an aggressive election campaign next month following Mr Dick Spring's categorical decision to rule out a coalition between the Labour Party and Fianna Fail in the event of a hung Dail.

Embittered by the loss of its fall back strategy for a return to government, Fianna Fail will assess the electoral implications of fighting an independent, but coordinated, campaign with the Progressive Democrats at its frontbench meeting tomorrow.

The three Coalition leaders, boosted by the impetus of Mr Spring's announcement, will also meet tomorrow to consider their draft common manifesto. Barring accidents, they are on course to call the election on May 1st, with polling on May 23rd.

Meanwhile, Mr Spring was compelled to put his leadership on the line at the Labour Party's national conference to reinforce his pledge to voters that he would not recommend a coalition between Labour and Fianna Fail after the election.

With Labour's participation in government to be discussed by a special conference after the count, Mr Spring said: "I will not, in the aftermath of the next general election, come before you and recommend any form of coalition with either of the parties that make up the centre right alternative, the Progressive Democrats or Fianna Fail."

He was given a rapturous reception by the 1,000 delegates when he added: "It will be for you to decide. But I will urge you, with all the conviction at my command, that we should go into opposition rather than into Government with either of them."

To avoid ambiguity, he repeated a third time that they should rule out a Fianna Fail/ Labour government following this election.

The Fianna Fail leader, Mr Bertie Ahern, who spent yesterday preparing his presidential address for the Fianna Fail ardfheis next weekend, noted Mr Spring's decision "to tie the Labour Party irrevocably with the fate of the present Government, which is irresponsibly squandering the fruits of Ireland's economic growth".

In a statement yesterday, Mr Ahern said he believed the electorate would reject this Government "and, in particular, the Labour Party for their arrogance, hypocrisy and self serving interests".

Labour strategists, meanwhile, listed three reasons at the weekend for Mr Spring's "high risk strategy" in limiting their post election options. The first, and most important, is that research data show voters do not trust Mr Spring since his 1992 decision to enter Government with Fianna Fail. Fine Gael transfers would be required to maintain Labour seats. And third, the party's campaign would be dogged by questions about coalition choices if a firm decision was not announced.

After the speech, key Labour Ministers who would have been disposed towards a coalition with Fianna Fail - Mr Quinn, Mr Howlin and Mr Higgins - accepted that option was out. None of them could challenge and defeat a recommendation from Mr Spring to a special post election conference to lead the party into opposition.