Bree will not run for Labour while Rabbitte is leader

sligo | politics / elections | news report Sunday November 13, 2005 23:46 by Pat - ly

Following his decision not to seek a nomination for the Labour Party for the forthcoming General Election, speculation is now rife that Clr. Declan Bree may run as an Independent candidate.

Although still a member of the Labour party, Clr. Bree's ongoing bitter row with leader, Mr. Pat Rabbitte, and his well-publicised differences with some local party members, could result in his resignation before the election and his subsequent entry into the field on an independent ticket.

While he declined to comment on such a prospect, it is reliably understood that Clr. Bree is already coming under pressure from disaffected Labour supporters to go it alone.

He will not be seeking a nomination at the Labour selection convention in Sligo on Sunday night, but the possibility remains that he could be added to the ticket at a later date. However, his insistence that he will not accept a nomination as long as Mr. Rabbitte remains as leader would seem to effectively rule out that outcome.

His decision means that for the first election since 1992, when he won a Dail seat, Clr. Bree will not be flying the Labour flag in this constituency. He had already contested a number of electons as an independent before joining the Labour ranks, so if he doesn't run this time, it will be the first general election since 1981 without Bree's name on the ballot paper.

His decision means there will now be a three-way battle for the nomination at Sunday's selection convention, which will be chaired by Kildare TD, Mr. Jack Wall.

Sligo councillors, Jim McGarry and Veronica Cawley will be joined in battle by Manorhamilton's Gabriel MacSharry.

In a letter to the Secretary of the East Ward branch of the Labour party explaining his decision not to seek a nomination, Clr. Bree said he would find it impossible to work with or campaign for Mr. Rabbitte.

He wrote: "Given the significant and increasing difficulties I have with the Party Leader, Mr Pat Rabbitte, I believe it would not be credible for me to accept a nomination to stand as a candidate while Mr Rabbitte remains as leader of the Labour Party.

"You will know that a Complaints Committee is shortly to be established by the Party to consider the allegations made against me by Mr Rabbitte in September, and there is also a likelihood of court proceedings.

"Given such a situation it is clear that I would find it impossible to work with, or campaign with or for Mr Rabbitte.

"As you will be aware I have consulted widely over the past number of weeks with activists, my election workers and supporters and those who share our values, and the great majority are strongly of the view that it would not be tenable for me to accept a nomination while Mr Rabbitte remains as Leader of the party.

"Indeed you will know that a number of them also shared your concern regarding confidential National Executive Committee documentation acquired by the media, which indicates that the party does not expect to win a Dail seat in this constituency for at least two elections. In this context, like yourself, they have a concern that their only role would be to sweep up Labour votes for Fine Gael.

"In conclusion, given the escalating and serious difficulties between Mr Rabbitte and myself, and taking on board the views of so many of those who share my values I can confirm that I am not prepared to allow my name go forward for nomination"