Sinn Féin leads way in Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI poll with highest support ever

[Grace O'Malley]

Which means that the party that was in control before should have anticipated it and took the necessary steps. Or do nothing and lose the elections.

Yes well that's obviously what the people think as well.

A lot of these issues are not that easy to fix though. There is a lot to sort out including more affordable housing for the less fortunate.

https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-...x-it-1.4149261

[The Lawspeaker]

Yes well that's obviously what the people think as well.

A lot of these issues are not that easy to fix though. There is a lot to sort out including more affordable housing for the less fortunate.

https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-...x-it-1.4149261

You know what they say, right ? Give the people what they want. If it's housing, they want ? Start planning, acquiring land and building. This is why the Right is losing again in Europe: they had the chance to deliver and they didn't do it. What they do is just screaming from the sidelines and when the people gave them a mandate, they either they dodged their responsibility by staying on the sidelines or just played nice with their rich backers the moment they came to power. Either way: they haven't sorted out a single issue. Not even immigration (look no further than Boris in Britain - for which he will be served a hefty bill when in future elections).

[Grace O'Malley]

You know what they say, right ? Give the people what they want. If it's housing, they want ? Start planning, acquiring land and building. This is why the Right is losing again in Europe: they had the chance to deliver and they didn't do it. What they do is just screaming from the sidelines but either they dodged their responsibility by staying on the sidelines or just played nice with their rich backers when they came to power. Either way: they haven't sorted out a single issue. Not even immigration (look no further than Boris in Britain - for which he will be served a hefty bill when in future elections).

Yes it seems like commonsense to do that. They obviously need more flats in Ireland especially around the Dublin area. Ireland now is obviously a country drawing immigrants whereas for centuries people were leaving. The Government should be aware of these trends and plan especially if they are trying to get businesses to move to Ireland.

[Graham]

A lot of younger people appear to like Sinn Fein who are more left leaning. There is a housing crisis and shortage of hospital beds. Sinn Fein is promising greater government spending to alleviate some of these issues.

They are lacking enough representatives though and Ireland also has proportional voting so my bet is Fianna Fáil will get in. Sinn Fein seem to be definitely on the rise though and do better each election.

Mary Lou McDonald is very articulate and is doing very well in the polls.

The thing with single transferable vote is that being unpopular is as important as being popular. Why it is a good system, it's a favourite of mine. If not first choice you need to be second or third etc.. And having more representation on polling papers helps.

This makes a poll harder to translate. Nonetheless if a party moves in the way Sinn fein does a week before an election they could still move in that direction, the trend favours them.

[The Lawspeaker]

Yes it seems like commonsense to do that. They obviously need more flats in Ireland especially around the Dublin area. Ireland now is obviously a country drawing immigrants whereas for centuries people were leaving. The Government should be aware of these trends and plan especially if they are trying to get businesses to move to Ireland.

We have the same problem on the Mainland: right now London is like a chicken being plucked by Paris, Amsterdam and Dublin so this means that there needs to be a real expansion of the available housing stock (which is in short supply as it is). The government should have anticipated this but it didn't. They never do because they think they can"leave it to their friends in the Market" (and probably take their piece of the pie in the forms of bribes and commissions) but the Market doesn't work that way. The Market relies on keeping scarce things scarce and prices high. It's a rip off and everybody knows it.

[Grace O'Malley]

The thing with single transferable vote is that being unpopular is as important as being popular. Why it is a good system, it's a favourite of mine. If not first choice you need to be second or third etc.. And having more representation on polling papers helps.

This makes a poll harder to translate. Nonetheless if a party moves in the way Sinn feinn does a week before a poll they could still move in that direction, the trend favours them.

Yes it is similar to the voting here in Australia. It makes the Irish election an exciting one to watch. It will be interesting to see how many seats Sinn Fein gain. I really like Mary Lou and I think she deserves a lot of credit.

[Grace O'Malley]

We have the same problem on the Mainland: right now London is like a chicken being plucked by Paris, Amsterdam and Dublin so this means that there needs to be a real expansion of the available housing stock (which is in short supply as it is). The government should have anticipated this but it didn't. They never do because they think they can"leave it to their friends in the Market" (and probably take their piece of the pie in the forms of bribes and commissions) but the market doesn't work that way. The Market relies on keeping scarce things scarce and prices high. It's a rip off and everybody knows it.

You are so right. There is not enough affordable housing and a lot of that is a Government issue. No wonder people start voting for alternate parties in the end.

[The Lawspeaker]

You are so right. There is not enough affordable housing and a lot of that is a Government issue. No wonder people start voting for alternate parties in the end.

They will probably vote the way I voted for the Populist Right for the first time: holding my nose (if you catch my drift). I might just drift to the other arsewipes (those on the Left) and repeat the process in the next elections. If I can't be arsed to vote at all, that is. The Right should remember that we gave them a chance because the voter (all over Europe) was fed up with the other guys. They can lose that good grace as quickly as they've earned it.

[Graham]

Yes it is similar to the voting here in Australia. It makes the Irish election an exciting one to watch. It will be interesting to see how many seats Sinn Fein gain. I really like Mary Lou and I think she deserves a lot of credit.

They have learnt from the SNP success and to get away from being a single issue party, but still have it at the top. Being a Civic nationalist party.

Mary Lou McDonald doesn't have the IRA baggage which must have helped. If I was Irish I'd feel more comfortable voting McDonald than anything Sinn Fein had in the past

[Graham]

Both Sinn Fein and SNP will actually be happy. Lots happening in next year or so.

Scotland poll (3/2/20)
Holyrood voting intention (change March 2019)

Constituency
SNP 51% (+8)
Con 23% (-1)
Lab 17% (-5)
LD 7% (-2)

Regional List
SNP 38% (+6)
Con 21% (-1)
Lab 19% (-)
GRN 9% (-2)
LD 9% (-2)

Should Scotland be an independent country?
30/1/20: YouGov : YES 51% No 49%
3/2/20: Survation: YES 50% No 50% (tiny YES lead)
3/2/20: Panelbase: YES 52% No 48%