Aidan Regan: Labour is still paying the price its fateful embrace of austerity

Until the party disowns the disastrous policies that marred its time in government between 2011 and 2016, it cannot hope to put pressure on Sinn Féin on the centre-left of Irish politics

Labour leader Alan Kelly. If Labour is to have a future on the left of Irish politics, it must admit that austerity was a mistake that played no role in Ireland’s economic recovery. Picture: Rollingnews.ie

The established party that looks to have the grimmest future in Irish politics is Labour. Since 2019, it’s been averaging a paltry 4 per cent in the polls, rather ironically given the leftward shift now taking place in Irish politics. If Labour is to have a future on the left of Irish politics, it must admit that austerity was a mistake that played no role in Ireland’s economic recovery.

Labour’s struggle is of course related ...