Frankfurt's Way or Labour's Way

"Frankfurt's Way or Labour's Way" (sometimes repeated as "Labour's Way or Frankfurt's Way")[1][2][3][4] is a campaign slogan used by the then Irish Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore in advance of the country's 2011 general election. The phrase has become an archetypal example of a broken election promise in Irish politics. Described as "a desperate attempt to get votes",[5] Gilmore claimed on 3 February 2011 that the Labour Party (if put into power) would renegotiate the recent EU-IMF deal brought in under the Fianna Fáil-Green Party coalition. The promise was made as Gilmore launched Labour's economic plan. Frankfurt (in Germany) is home to the headquarters of the European Central Bank (ECB).[6] Labour politicians were elected in their droves on polling day. They then formed their own coalition with Fine Gael, but did not renegotiate the deal.

In 2012, after 25 per cent of their vote from the previous year's election evaporated, the Irish Independent said the Labour Party was "haunted" by the promise.[5] The following month, the European Fiscal Compact was enshrined in the Constitution, thereby ensuring the very fiscal compliance Labour had vowed to oppose.[7] Gilmore's promise was also referenced following the rush through the Oireachtas of legislation to liquidate IBRC in 2013.[8] Even Labour stalwart Fergus Finlay admitted in 2015 that it was "a phrase he [Gilmore] had difficulty living down".[9] However, Alan Kelly claimed "A lot of Labour's way was achieved" when quizzed on Gilmore's promise in 2015.[10]

In Labour's centenary year, state television (RTÉ) produced a two-part documentary on the history of party. They titled it Labour's Way.[11]

References

  1. ↑ 'Labour's Way Or Frankfurt's Way' Latest
  2. ↑ Labour's way, Frankfurt's way - or back to the old ways
  3. ↑ A Dark day for Labour
  4. ↑ Broken promises in a broken system
  5. 1 2 Labour haunted by old slogans
  6. ↑ Gilmore vows to renegotiate 'bad deal' on EU-IMF bailout package irishtimes
  7. ↑ Tonight with #vinb: We now know Labour's way is Frankfurt's way
  8. ↑ Frankfurt's Way
  9. ↑ FERGUS FINLAY: Dáil could lose its way without politicians of vision and principle irishexaminer
  10. ↑ Saying Labour hasn't delivered is just 'lazy media spin' – Alan Kelly
  11. ↑ Labour's Way
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