LABOUR HAS DROPPED seven to just 4 per cent in the latest Red C opinion poll carried out for bookmaker Paddy Power.

The poll published today puts the junior coalition partner at one of its lowest poll ratings in decades with pollsters partially attributing it to the lack of a new leader following the announcement that Eamon Gilmore will resign next month.

The 4 per cent rating represents a seven point drop from the last Red C poll carried out for the Sunday Business Post in May.

When those polled were asked about the new leader for the Labour party Joan Burton emerges as the clear favourite with 55 per cent suggesting they would prefer her as leader including 61 per cent of all Labour voters.

Thrity per cent back White which rises to 36 per cent of all Labour voters who were polled.

Elsewhere Fine Gael has also suffered a drop to 22 per cent (down three), Fianna Fáil is also down three to 18 per cent while Sinn Féin is at 22 per cent (up four).

The biggest beneficiaries of the others’ decline are independents and other parties who are up nine to 32 per cent.

The Green Party is down one to 2 per cent.

Labour’s choice: Joan Burton is the favourite, but Alex White is banking on his message of renewal