Labour complaint against Bree: the jury is still out

by The Insider - Labour Sat Oct 08, 2005 15:29

If you head office a stick to beat the party with they wouldn't do as much damage. These "charges" should be dropped fourthwith.

by kintama Sat Oct 08, 2005 17:53

Not sure if the pun was intended about a 'Stick' wrecking the party. However given that it appears several party members have lodged complaints against the party leader over his row with Declan Bree the possibilty of power seems to be slipping away.
Looks like Labour have been blessed with a leader who has about as much political nous as Enda' I support the Rossport 5' Kenny.
FG in Mayo and Labour in Sligo wonder what odds the bookies are giving for the 2007 elections.

by Labourwatcher Sun Oct 09, 2005 13:07

LABOUR leader Pat Rabbitte could face suspension or even expulsion if a complaint against him by a long-serving party member is upheld.

Sligo councillor Declan Bree has lodged a formal complaint with the party's general secretary Mike Allen over claims made by Mr Rabbitte in a letter to the 'Irish Times' which he described as "shocking and unacceptable".

It is understood a number of other letters of complaint on the matter have also been sent by party members to Mr Allen.

In a letter to the newspaper last month, Mr Rabbitte affirmed Labour's commitment to the provision of accommodation for Travellers, but claimed that in Sligo Cllr Bree had "used his position as mayor to stop an accommodation site going into his own electoral ward and sought to put it into the ward of a colleague that already had three such sites."

Cllr Bree is claiming the party leader has attempted to vilify and smear him in an "unprecedented public manner" and has accused him of "making scurrilous and unfounded allegations against a party colleague."

Under party rules, on receipt of a formal complaint, the General Secretary has 21 days to either dismiss it as "vexatious or frivolous" or deem it valid and establish a complaints committee.

Such a committee would have the power to to suspend or expel a person from the party.

Irish Independent

by kintama Sun Oct 09, 2005 13:33

The battle lines are drawn in what looks likely to be a bitter fight between the remaining socialists in the party and Rabbittes Blueshirt battalions. Getting shot of Bree won't now solve the 'Dear Leaders' problems as it looks like several other party members have lodged complaints against him. Who will rid Pat of these turbulent socialists who appear to be spread further afield than Sligo.
It does appear however that Bree is on his way. Yesterday he withdrew for a second time from the complaints committee hearing citing 'flagrant non- compliance with the rules of natural justice'. Looks like Pat still can't tear himself away from the old Stickie style administration of justice.
If civil war does break out in the party you would have to worry about it being a bit of an uneven fight given that only one side has access to weapons buried in the thatch.

by Northerner Sun Oct 09, 2005 16:58

NELSON'S PILLAR:

....Incidentally, my sources tell me that the row between Sligo’s Declan Bree and Comrade Pat runs very deep indeed. Pat’s experience in Democratic Left, New Agenda, in the Workers Party, in Sinn Féin/the Workers Party and in Official Sinn Féin may give him an edge in dealing with internal disciplinary matters but don’t underestimate Comrade Bree’s tenacity.
A Connolly Youth veteran, he goes back almost as long as this column. If Labour loses him, it will be a further sign of the party’s decline in rural Ireland.