FINE GAEL’S EITHNE Loftus, who is running for the Dáil in the Dublin West by-election, is distributing campaign literature which says she’s ‘the only government candidate’ despite Labour’s Patrick Nulty also running for election.

Loftus’s campaign is putting stickers on her election posters in the area saying she is the only government candidate while campaign literature being posted through letterboxes proclaims: ‘On Thursday vote for the only government candidate’ .

Labour’s Nulty is also running in Dublin West and was reported in the Irish Daily Mail yesterday to be leading an internal poll carried out by Fine Gael with a 24.5 per cent share of the vote, followed by Loftus on 22 per cent and the Socialist Party’s Ruth Coppinger on 19 per cent.

A spokesperson for Labour said that the party was “surprised” by the claim adding: “Eithne Loftus clearly has her facts wrong.”

Responding to claims that the literature was misleading, a spokesperson for Fine Gael told TheJournal.ie that the party felt it was important to point out a “fundamental difference” between voting for Loftus and Nulty.

“Although both are candidates for the Government parties, Eithne is the only candidate who is unequivocal in her support for the Government,” he said. ”Mr Nulty, on the other hand, has been very unclear on whether the Government will be able to rely on his support if he is elected.

“In fact, when asked at a recent public meeting in Blachardstown to state how he would vote in the Dáil in the event of cuts to Connolly Hospital, Mr Nulty replied: “The Government would not be able to rely on my support” which basically amounts to an avoidance of the question.”

A spokesperson for Labour denied this and said Nulty had recently clarified his position on that very issue, saying: “Labour is a partner in this government and our candidate Patrick Nulty has pledged that in the Dail, he will vote with his Party on all issues.”

Neither Patrick Nulty nor Eithne Loftus could be reached for comment at  the time of publication.

Picture: Mark Stanley

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