Row brews in Labour over Galway West seat

galway | politics / elections | news report

Wednesday March 08, 2006 23:11

by MarkK - LP

MICHAEL D HIGGINS’S drawn-out decision on whether to remain in politics has left the Labour Party facing a possible west coast crisis as local councillors rebel against the party. After months of uncertainty, Mr Higgins told Labour's Galway West constituency council meeting on Friday night that he would allow his name to go forward for selection at convention.

Labour HQ has repeatedly made it clear that it believes there is room for only one party candidate in the constituency.

However, local councillor Catherine Connolly last night vowed to stand as well whether or not she has the backing of the party.

"I will be standing in the election. I can't put it any more strongly than that," she said.

"I certainly will stand ... I think there's certainly room for two. I would hope that Labour would see sense. It would make absolute sense to stand a woman candidate in Galway and I would hope that Labour would live up to its commitment to increase female participation."

Ms Connolly also criticised Mr Higgins for dragging his heels, accusing him of being responsible for an "unhelpful" and "unnecessary" vagueness.

"I think the vagueness that has been allowed to enter into this has been totally unhelpful and unnecessary," she said.

"We should be running a very strong campaign and that campaign should have started already."

Mr Higgins rejected his constituency colleague's criticism, saying he saw no advantage in running an election campaign for 18 months.

"I don't agree that my taking some time has been unhelpful. I think that's very unfair, given my situation last year in hospital for example. I think that I'm entitled to take time," he said.

He declined to comment on whether there was room for two in the constituency. "This is the first time I'm hearing all this so I need to think about it," he said.

However, Labour has already ruled out the possibility of two candidates a decision which will not be reversed.

A party spokesman said anyone was free to seek selection at convention.

"It is a matter in the end for the members in Galway West. I'm sure they would take into account the distinguished Dáil record of someone like Michael D Higgins," he said.

Meanwhile, in Sligo, Labour is facing the prospect of another councillor revolt amid continuing speculation that former Sligo-Leitrim TD Declan Bree may run as an independent.

Mr Bree's already fraught relationship with Labour leader Pat Rabbitte deteriorated further at the end of last year when the party dismissed an official complaint from him against Mr Rabbitte.

It is interesting to note that Cllr. Connolly publically supported Declan Bree in his ongoing row with Pat Rabbitte and attended the internal party complaints hearing at Labour HQ with the former Sligo mayor.

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Comments (11 of 11)

Can't see Micheal D getting elected

by Damo

Thu Mar 09, 2006 20:17

I can't see Michael D holding on to his seat, it would be better for Labour to get a new standard bearer in Galway. Cllr. Connolly seems to be very popular in the city and is more than able for the job, she is a practising barrister and a experienced clinical psychologist.

First elected to Galway City council in 1999, in 2004 she moved from the west ward in the south ward to give way for her sister Collete Connolly who stood in her former ward and got elected.

Rabbitte to go for 2 on Labour Ticket

by pat connor

Thu Mar 09, 2006 22:43

i bet Rabbitte & Co. add Cllr. Connolly to ticket just to keep Michael D from being elected. He's far too left and could upset any coalition deal with FG.

Out of Touch

by Jane Morgan

Thu Mar 09, 2006 23:43

I figure that Pat Connor is out of touch with LP politics. Michael D threw in the towel after his attempt to secure the LP nomination for the Presidency failed. He moved into Rabbittes camp having probably received some type of vague promise of a Ministerial position if he stayed about until after the next general election. Since then there hasn’t been a squeak of criticism from him, especially regarding Rabbittes disgraceful comments on migrant workers etc. He consistently described Rabbittes comments on the 40 million Poles as “unfortunate”.

“Unfortunate”- can you believe it! If it had been McDowell who made the reference to the 40 million Poles, Michael D would have levitated - taking the high moral ground. His public silence on the Traveller issue in Sligo is another example. Yes, privately he supported Brees stance but he refused to criticise the Show Trial organised by Rabbitte and LP Head office. Michael D wants to be a cabinet minister again. Everyone knows that he was a superb Minister for Arts and Culture and having got a taste of a ministry he earnestly wants to get back to the cabinet table. If that means maintaining a discrete silence on certain issues or if that means shafting a principled left winger like Catherine Connolly, then so be it. After all – that’s politics !

champagne socialists all

by Seamus

Fri Mar 10, 2006 09:41

If Catherine Connolly gets elected you can bet that her left wing ideas will be left at the door to Leinster house like her fellow smoked salmon socialists.

The idea that Labour is a socialist \ left wing party is farcial. Not worth getting out of bed for.....

Establishment Party Careerism

by Marxist

Fri Mar 10, 2006 10:49

This is further evidence that the Labour Party are an establishment political party. Not worth even considering. Vote Fine Gael at least they don't try left rhetoric like Micheal D. Higgins and his other ex-lefts.

Marxist

by Spartacus

Fri Mar 10, 2006 11:06

So you would prefer to see a Blueshirt elected rather than Michael D. Higgins. I am more than a little puzzled at this. Trotskyists of all hues including the SWP and SP are happy to work with Labour and Michael D. Higgins in the IAWM. Given this I would have presumed that our Trotskyist friends would prefer to see an anti war campaigner like Michael D. Higgins elected rather than a pro war Blueshirt.

If you are true to your principles then you will demand that that the IAWM expel Michael D. Higgins, Roger Cole and other Labour Party members. Then you can have a nice pure organisation.

Labour and FG what's the difference?

Fri Mar 10, 2006 12:37

I would like to give Labour the boot out of all working class campaigns. Michael D. Higgins abondoned working class politics when he went into cabinet. This man even wanted to be president!! How more establishment can you get? Labour and Michael D. Higgins are not genuinely opposed to the raq war. Their 'comrade' Blair started the war. Labour call for UN involvement in Iraq. This is a very bad position that any socialist would have big problems with. UN are no alternative. I think that Labour should not be supported in the elections. If you wanna vote Fine Gael then vote for the real thing and not their left attack monkies.

Quit the guilt by association crap.

by The Insider

Fri Mar 10, 2006 18:38

Just because Blair supports the war doesn't mean that Irish Labour does. Stalin was happy to be called a Marxist, that doesn't mean that Joe Higgins and Stalin are cut from the same cloth.

2 for Labour ticket would be fair

by Pat Connor

Fri Mar 10, 2006 21:31

This would be a fair respone from HQ. It would give Cllr. connoly a good run out in advance of the following election and bring in some more votes for the LP.

She deserves to be selected

by Markk - LP

Fri Mar 10, 2006 21:53

Micheal D has been a credit to the Labour Party in Galway but he should retire from the Dail and give someone else a chance. I think his unwillingness to criticise Pat Rabbitte will be a black mark for many on the left in the party.

Cllr. Connolly has demonstrated huge personal committment to representing Galway and its citizens. She has stuck her neck out on many occasions for better services and resources for Galways's residents. She's taken principled stands on many issues including vigorously campaigning for much-needed social and affordable housing; principled planning instead of ad-hoc developer-driven material contraventions; the city-wide introduction of playgrounds and child facilities; making Galway a disabled-friendly city through the Barcelona declaration; opposing the new clamping arrangements and the recent embracing of a city-wide anti-racism strategy.

In this cyncial age, far too many representives choose to spend their time and efforts trying to predict the capricous opinions of the local media, so as to guard their own public image and future-career prospects. Unfortunately too many politicans opt to tell people what they want to hear instead of what they should hear. Nobody could ever accuse Catherine of this, or of neglecting to stand up for the less-privileged in society where there often are few votes to be won.

Ye are all a bunch of careerist establishment politicians

Sun Mar 12, 2006 01:34

"Just because Blair supports the war doesn't mean that Irish Labour does. Stalin was happy to be called a Marxist, that doesn't mean that Joe Higgins and Stalin are cut from the same cloth."

Joe Higgins was always a strong opponant of stalinism. Rabbitte was not. Russian Trotskyists fought strongly against Stalin and paid for it with their lives. I seriously doubt that any Labour member would fight for anything to the extent Marxists do and have done. I don't see the Irish Labour party putting up any opposition to the British Labour Party! They still sit in same international organisation and with them in European Parliament quite happily. Irish Labour has not called for the expulsion of British, German, Danish, Swedish, French, Labour/Social Democratic organisations from PES. So I presume they are ok with their policies and would be happy to carry out 'reforms' of social welfare and public spending and their racist deportation/immigration policies.

Michael D. Higgins is part of the problem with Labour. He shows how bankrupt and right-wing they are. The argument about his selection is not some noble battle between right and left. It's a careerist bickering. Nothing more.

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Row brews in Labour over Galway West seat

Comments (11 of 11)