SF SLIDING AGAIN
Support for Mary Lou’s party now at its lowest level for three years
SUPPORT for Sinn Fein has dropped again according to the latest opinion poll and is now at its lowest level in three years.
There has also been a rise in the public’s backing for the Coalition parties and the Social Democrats.
The latest Ireland Thinks poll for the Sunday Independent puts Mary Lou Mcdonald’s party on 27% – a two-point drop since February.
Overall there has been an eight-point fall compared to last September and its lowest level of support in the series since April 2021.
Analysts have put the loss down to the party’s stance on immigration as other polls suggest around 70% of
Sinn Fein supporters would like to see numbers coming to this country capped.
The latest poll shows there has been a huge erosion of support for Sinn Fein in the last six months when it was polling at 35%.
While it remains the country’s most popular party it would not come anywhere near forming a Government if an early election was called.
The survey also shows Fine Gael is second on 20%, up one point, while Fianna Fail is also up one to 18% and the Greens also up one to 4%.
There was also good news for the Social Democrats as they now stand on 7% while Labour remain unchanged on 4%. Solidarity-people Before Profit is on 2%, down one, with Aontu also on 2% down one, and Independents and others down one to 17%.
When asked, the two most important priorities for the public are now housing and the cost of living, then healthcare.
Support for Sinn Fein in Government also dropped with 43% (up five) backing the re-election of the Government in a forced choice.
That’s ahead of a Sinn Fein-led one excluding Fine Gael and Fianna Fail on 39% (down four).
The newspaper survey also found half of those asked had no confidence in Media Minister Catherine Martin’s handling of the RTE controversies, with 28% saying they have confidence and 22% not sure.