Support for Sinn Féin continues to drop, according to latest poll

By David Young, PA

Support for Sinn Féin is continuing to slide, with the party down four points in two months, according to the latest opinion poll.

The Business Post Red C survey of voter intentions has Sinn Féin at 25 per cent, a fall of four points from the 29 per cent it attracted in the last major poll at the end of November.

The results mark a further drop from the 32 per cent support the party achieved in a poll in October.

However, the suggested slump in support for the main opposition party does not appear to have been prompted by a significant rise in backing for government parties.

Support for Fine Gael remains at 20 per cent, unchanged from November’s poll, while Fianna Fáil is up one point to 17 per cent.

The largest increase recorded in the latest poll is for independent TDs, with that grouping up two points to 15 per cent.

The picture appears stable for the smaller parties in the Dáil.

The Social Democrats remain the largest of those parties, unchanged at 6 per cent.

The Greens remain at 4 per cent, as does Labour, while People Before Profit-Solidarity were also unchanged at 3 per cent.

Support for Aontú was up by one point to 3 per cent.

The next general election is set to be held in 2025. However, speculation is mounting it could be called in 2024.

The current Government is a coalition involving Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and the Green Party.

Earlier this month Leo Varadkar said he did not favour an early election prior to the Dáil’s full term ending in early 2025.

A general election must be held by March 2025, so Mr Varadkar’s comments suggest he is supportive of a repeat of 2020’s February polling day.