{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/6155db9059a3fa00137f30a9/69d2c4b1d2e95f5131e49331?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Pressure builds on Labour as austerity bites: Collapse, part two","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/6155db9059a3fa00137f30a9/1775421519975-122c63e1-28f0-4bff-8f74-ca38aa660b2d.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p><em>Inside Politics is coming to Galway in May for a live recording. Get your tickets </em><a href=\"https://events.irishtimes.com/events/159271\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><em>here</em></a><em>.</em></p><p><br></p><p>In part two of this three-part series on Labour's harrowing experience in government from 2011 to 2016, Pat Leahy and Hugh Linehan follow the story of the first three years of that austerity-delivering coalition. </p><p><br></p><p>As punishing budget after punishing budget was delivered, Labour struggled to retain its political identity and principles while working with Fine Gael to present a united front to a world that saw Ireland as an economic basket case. Successes - exiting the EU-IMF bailout programme, securing legislation on abortion - are completely overshadowed by the harshness of austerity. For Labour and its party leader Eamon Gilmore, the political damage mounts. </p><p><br></p><p>Listen to part one <a href=\"https://www.irishtimes.com/podcasts/inside-politics/collapse-how-labour-went-from-boom-to-bust/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>. </p><p><br></p>","author_name":"The Irish Times"}