Government accused of gaslighting Irish people as Longford Westmeath resoundingly rejects both referendums

Cllr Gerry Warnock: 'The silent majority found their voice and I couldn’t be prouder to be Irish'

A Longford Independent councillor has accused the Government of 'gaslighting the Irish people on a range of issues' as the Longford Westmeath electorate and the country's voters resoundingly rejected both referendums put before the people on Friday.

"The silent majority found their voice and I couldn’t be prouder to be Irish," declared Cllr Gerry Warnock as 74.6% and 78.6% of voters in the Longford Westmeath constituency voted NO to the Family Referendum and to the Care Referendum, respectively.

Cllr Warnock continued, "This government has been gaslighting the Irish people on a range of issues from Covid to Immigration and all the way through this referendum campaign.

He said the 'other political parties are hardly better'.

"They too try to ride every horse, are afraid to offend and are fully signed up to this brand of extreme liberalism that has destroyed our society, our democracy and our beautiful country.

"Only for a few rogue Independents who were laughed at and ridiculed by senior politicians, commentators and national media, who had the courage to hold the line and tell it as it is - they did the State a great service and I salute them all."

Counting of the votes for the Referendums on the 39th amendment of the Constitution (Family) Bill 2023 and the 40th amendment to the Constitution (Care) Bill 2023 for the Longford Westmeath constituency took place yesterday (Saturday, March 9) at the John McCormack Hall, Technological University of the Shannon Athlone.

The overall turnout in Longford Westmeath was 40.85 per cent.

Turnout in Longford was 36.9% of eligible voters, with turnout in neighbouring Westmeath coming in at 3.4% higher at 40.3%.

There were over four hundred invalid ballot papers in both counts.

Longford / Westmeath referendum results

39th amendment of the Constitution (Family) Bill 2023

Total electorate: 92,626

Total poll: 37,844

Invalid ballot papers: 407

Total valid poll: 37,437

YES Votes 9,497 (25.4%)

NO Votes 27,940 (74.6%)

40th amendment to the Constitution (Care) Bill 2023

Total poll: 37,846

Invalid ballot papers: 411

Total valid poll: 37,435

YES Votes 8,023 (21.4%)

NO Votes 29,412 (78.6%)

Cllr Warnock, who has announced that he won't be contesting the forthcoming local elections, said the vote demonstrated how real change can be achieved.

"This, my dear friends, is how you let the powers know how you feel; Not by burning property; Not by marching; Not by being abusive on social media; Not by screaming from the sidelines but by making the trip to the ballot box by using your precious mandate and tell them that you’ve had enough."