Political opponents of the Labour party have been reacting to a newspaper advert this morning claiming that the opposition parties have "no direction" and urging people to vote Labour for a fairer government, writes Conor McMorrow of our Political Staff.

This morning’s Labour party newspapers adverts showed pictures of AAA/PBP candidate Paul Murphy, Renua leader Lucinda Creighton, Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams, Fianna Fáil leader Mícheál Martin, and Independent Alliance candidate Shane Ross mocked up as members of a band called ‘No Direction’

Dublin South West candidate for the Anti-Austerity Alliance, Paul Murphy was asked this afternoon if he was “happy at being made a member of One Direction“ in the Labour party advert this morning.

Mr Murphy said: “Someone told me on Facebook I was Harry. I don’t know who Harry is.”

He joked, “Apparently he’s the good looking one, which is good.”

He then added: “I think that Labour would have been better off and would have got the same message out if they had created a poster of Joan Burton and Enda Kenny as part of Status Quo.

“That’s what they are saying - 'there is one direction, there is the status quo. Keep with us'.

Hey @labour, I corrected that ad for you, seeing as you are so proud about the 'one direction' that has failed us. pic.twitter.com/Tf4aag5wt3 — Paul Murphy (@paulmurphyAAA) February 18, 2016

"And if we keep with them, we will have more broken promises from the Labour party and we will have more austerity.

"A recovery will be created for the corporations, for the rich, for the bondholders and there will be no recovery for the majority.”

The Labour Party so out of touch they don't even know there are only four members of One Direction #GE16 pic.twitter.com/tasSU9V7B6 — Lucinda Creighton (@LCreighton) February 18, 2016

Renua party leader Lucinda Creighton tweeted earlier this morning: “The Labour party so out of touch they don’t even know there are only four members of One Direction.”

The Labour party's official Twitter account was not long in firing back at the former Fine Gael TD.

Sure @LCreighton it's obvious you're Zayn & given your history, you'd be the first to leave! #GE16 — The Labour Party (@labour) February 18, 2016

Fellow Dublin Bay South candidate, Labour’s Kevin Humphreys, replied later, “There will always be five members in One Direction in my book.”