Labour describes Fine Gael transfer push as ‘desperation’

Fine Gael has been dealt a blow in the final hours of campaigning after the Labour Party described a push by Simon Harris to transfer votes to parties like Fianna Fail and Labour as “desperation”.

Labour leader Ivana Bacik criticised the comments made by Mr Harris, appealing to the public to vote for “radical” change and “centre-left” parties.

The public will go to the polls on Friday and decide the political landscape for the next few years.

Meanwhile, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald urged the public to transfer their vote to left parties including Social Democrats and People Before Profit.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald speaking to the media with candidates Eoin O Broin (centre left), Matt Carthy (centre right) and supporters outside Government Buildings, Dublin
Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald speaking to the media with candidates Eoin O Broin (centre left), Matt Carthy (centre right) and supporters outside Government Buildings, Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA)

Speaking outside Government Buildings, Ms McDonald said: “I’ve said that I want people to transfer to other parties that are interested in change.

“I think each constituency will differ but I think we can identify parties like the Social Democrats that we would share ideas on housing and other policies on.

“People Before Profit candidates of the left, some independent candidates. It depends.

“It varies from constituency to constituency, and it’s not for me to tell people how to vote, bar to ask them in the first instance to vote for Sinn Fein.”

Earlier, the Taoiseach said he wants the public to consider who will form a “stable government” when they are voting, asking whether the country would want to have “50 or 60” independent TDs in the Dail.

Mr Harris said it is not his place to tell people who to transfer their vote to, but urged them to consider the make-up of the government after the election.

Labour leader Ivana Bacik with supporters at St Stephen’s Green, Dublin
Labour leader Ivana Bacik with supporters at St Stephen’s Green, Dublin (Grainne Ni Aodha/PA)

Speaking to the PA news agency on Thursday, Mr Harris said he was asking people to consider carefully which candidates they would give a preference to on the ballot paper on Friday.

“The point I am making is… of course I am asking people to vote for my party, to vote Fine Gael, and in the areas where we are running more than one candidate, to continue your vote for the rest of the Fine Gael candidates,” he said.

“But I am also very conscious that, when the election is over, whatever people decide is the decision, it is important that a stable government can be formed, and I have been making the point to people that my party has shown the ability to work well with other parties and I’m hoping that people would transfer their votes to other parties.

“There has been many good independent TDs in this country – I don’t make a pejorative comment at all in relation to any independent TD – but I do make the point, do we want to make up the Dail with 40 or 50, 60 independent TDs and how do we form a stable government if that is the backdrop?

“That is very much the point I am making. I am not going to tell people – it is not my place – as to who to transfer to, but I would hope people would consider, in their vote, who would form a government at the end of all of this.”

Tanaiste and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin said that forming a “coherent”, “stable” government that would last the next four-and-a-half years was “an important consideration”.

Tanaiste and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin during a press event at the Radisson Hotel on Golden Lane, Dublin
Tanaiste and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin (Brian Lawless/PA)

“But ultimately it is a matter for the people. I would never be over-prescriptive in saying to people who are exercising their democratic rights, it’s up to people to do that,” he said.

Speaking in Greystones, Co Wicklow, ahead of a canvass with Fianna Fail minister Stephen Donnelly, Mr Martin described the election campaign as “competitive” and “fragmented”.

“Transfers are going to be crucial and I’m saying to our candidates, campaign for the number ones, but campaign for the twos, threes, fours and fives as well. They’re going to be crucial in terms of the destination of final seats in constituencies across the country.

“So we’re going into this final two days positive but really understanding the competitive nature of this election.”

The latest opinion poll ahead of Friday’s General Election shows the country’s three largest parties remain in a tight race.

The Red C-Business Post survey shows support for Fianna Fail unchanged at 21%, only slightly ahead of its coalition partner, Fine Gael, which is down two percentage points at 20% and now neck and neck with the largest opposition party, Sinn Fein, which has gained two.

Mr Harris has said that his preference would be for a coalition.

He said in an interview with the Irish Examiner that he would be voting for Fine Gael and transferring to Fianna Fail and Labour, while urging voters to vote for “centrist” parties.

People walk through Cork city centre ahead of the General Election on Friday
People walk through Cork city centre ahead of the General Election on Friday (Jacob King/PA)

Speaking about the comments, Ms Bacik said: “I saw the Taoiseach’s comments today and frankly I think they smacked of desperation in the last few days of his campaign.

“I’ve consistently said for many months now, before this election campaign even started, that the first thing I would do if I am re-elected, after the people have spoken, is go to the leaders of other parties and other groupings who share a centre-left, green vision and those values that we hold dear in the Labour Party, because we want to ensure that that vision, those values, will shape the next government.”

Ms Bacik said there was an “appetite for Labour’s positive message of constructive change” among the electorate and said she was the only leader of a left party that had set out “a clear vision”.

“We are anticipating an increase in the number of Labour TDs will return to the next Dail,” she said.

Mr Harris also admitted his party faced “a couple of bumps” during the election campaign.

“We hit a couple of bumps along the way and I’ve been honest in relation to – to err is to be human and it’s how you respond to that is important,” he said in Dublin on Thursday.

“This election is about issues. This election is about what we are going to do to make life better for people, what are we going to do to keep the economy safe, how are we going to help with the cost of living, how are we going to build more homes?”

He said that he had discussed and debated the issues and spoken to people across the country over the past three weeks.

“This is all to play for,” he said.

“Best of luck to everyone. As President (Barack) Obama said to Sarah Palin when he rang her up when she was put on John McCain’s ticket as vice president, I wish you luck, but not too much.”