Varadkar criticised over ‘gimmicky’ referendum campaign after crushing defeat

Taoiseach bungled attempt to change wording of Irish constitution, politicians and commentators say

• Ireland’s referendums: what went wrong, and what happens now?

Critics have rounded on the Irish taoiseach after the government’s crushing defeat in a dual referendum, accusing him of overseeing a lacklustre campaign that was rushed out of a “gimmicky” desire to make voting coincide with International Women’s Day.

Politicians and commentators said on Sunday that Leo Varadkar bore serious responsibility for the bungled attempt to change outdated references to family and women in the Irish constitution.