Sir, – Like James Moran (May 3rd) and Christopher Sands (April 30th) I am a member of the Labour Party, but unlike my comrades I am making no attempt to defend the austerity policies imposed by this Fine Gael-led government.
In my view, to ask for Labour votes on the basis that “we had to trim our sails” or that “you have to cut where the big spend is” is a one-way ticket to a well-deserved electoral meltdown.
When I am canvassing, I am happy to ask for votes based firstly on the excellent record of our city councillors, and secondly, on the appalling vista of a Fianna Fail-controlled city council.
Come the next general election however, I will have nothing to say to voters, unless Labour have by then made a much bigger impact than we so far have on the economic policies and priorities of this government. Yours, etc,
DICK BARRETT,
Upper Rathmines Road,
Dublin 6