The biggest threat to the passing of the referendum is the performance of the Government and the overwhelming belief on the part of a large tranche of the electorate that they were duped by the Government in the run-up to the general election last May. People were repeatedly reassured that the economy was in sound condition, that more jobs would be created and that there would be full employment and that there would be no cutbacks in the health service, the public service or in the national development plan.