Madam, - I agree with Pat Rabbitte that there is a problem with "the Labour Brand" (The Irish Times, July 16th). I suggest its credibility has been weakened by "Brand Rabbitte".
How could the Labour brand "inspire a definite sense of what the party stands for", in Mr Rabbitte's words, when the leader chose to identify himself so closely with Fine Gael and came forward with policies that failed to differentiate Labour from the incumbent parties?
"Brand Rabbitte" lacks the authentic common touch that "Brand Bertie" enjoys. It also lacks the energy and vitality that "Brand Enda" injected into Fine Gael. Blaming the leaders' debate on RTÉ, the Late Late Show and, bizarrely, the new affluence of the working classes, as your report Mr Rabbitte to have done, is a poor excuse for tired leadership.
Regrettably, it is Mr Rabbitte himself, not the Labour members, who should be urged "to examine [ his] place in Irish politics and society". - Yours, etc,
MICHAEL ANDERSON,
Moyclare Close,
Baldoyle,
Dublin 13.