Labour moves to diffuse another selection row
sligo |
politics / elections |
news report 
Monday March 01, 2004 13:42
by JP - LY
Labour Party officials moved quickly this morning to diffuse another simmering row over selection of election candidates with a strong declaration that a convention for the Sligo/Strandhill electoral area had been conducted “strictly above board and in full accordance with party rules”. The statement from the party’s regional organiser, Mr. John Feely came in a response to a claim by Mr. Martin Cadden, who surprisingly withdrew from the contest for selection at Saturday’s convention, that the party head office had “manipulated the system” to ensure that Ald. Jim McGarry would secure a nomination. The row is the latest in a catalogue of differences which have surfaced since Ald. McGarry left Fine Gael to join the Labour Party late last year. On this occasion, Mr. Cadden, who had been expected to be an automatic choice for the Strandhill area for the forthcoming council elections, is claiming his late withdrawal was a protest against head office interference.
He has called on the party’s national organiser, who chaired Saturday’s convention at which Ald. McGarry and Ald. Declan Bree were unanimously chosen for the Strandhill area, to explain why head office had changed the rules to allow three candidates to run in the Strandhill area. Mr. Cadden claims the decision to have three candidates was made specifically to accommodate Ald. McGarry, but the party claims it had long since been decided on purely strategic grounds, to run three candidates. Mr. Cadden, who is the Finance Officer of the Sligo/Leitrim Constituency Council, told "The Sligo Champion". “It was originally agreed that there would be two Labour candidates contesting the Strandhill area and this decision was confirmed in January. "However, when it became clear that Jim McGarry would not have sufficient support to be selected, the rules were changed by head office so as to allow three candidates to run and guarantee Jim McGarry’s nomination”, he added.
Saying he was disgusted with what he called “the carry on” of head office, Mr. Cadden said he had worked in the Labour Party over the past number of years and had been encouraged to stand as a candidate. “Then, a few months ago, Jim McGarry, a person who has always opposed Labour and who always voted against the Labour Party, was brought into the party and head office changed rules to suit him”, Mr. Cadden said. Pointing out that he was coming under pressure from supporters to stand as an independent candidate, Mr. Cadden said he would be giving the matter some thought in the coming days.
Comments (26 of 26)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26Similar actions have been taken by the labour party HQ to squeeze out troublesome or left wing candiates. Roger Cole is one such example, here we see Declan Bree and other decenting voice, being given the squeeze.
With the move to the centre decenting opinions have to be silenced on the left within the party. Finlay, Magnier and Rabbit have a new vision for the LP! A centerist party, which will leave the local authority housing estates to SF and the SP. While they move to the Suburbs to court the soft FG vote.
Cadden has seen the light, Bree, Cole and many more should follow!
Is a candidate in Dun Laoire. He will beat RBB for the seat.
Opinion polls suggest that the LP will win its first ever local authority seat in Leitrim!
Gabriel McSharry looks set to foolow on from his narrow loss in 1999 to take a seat for the Manorhamilton electoral area.
Jimmy Gralton would be pround!
(he will be turning in his grave about Mr. McGarry in Sligo thought)
http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=63578
He may do so, but this despite the obstacles being put in his way by LP HQ. How did the Blueshirt O'Malley get on the ticket?
Left FG in 1994 and joined Labour. Hes a councillor already. Even groups like the SP and SWP have former members of FG and FF in their ranks.
Its normal for controversies to arise over who is chosen as a candidate, this happens in all parties, not just in Labour. A couple of cases spring to mind.
Joan Collins was selected by the SP to run in Crumlin but there now appears to be questionmarks over this. She may not be ratified by the SP National Committee.
Sean O'Neachtain of FF is a stting MEP but FF HQ tried to push him off the ticket. The selection conference decided otherwise and gave Frank Fahy the boot.
It would be truly ironic if FF were to respect the decision of a selection conference, and if the SP were to overturn a decision.
Is it true that Labour HQ are trying to run Donal O'Liathain in the local elections even though the local branch are not too happy?
Mr. O'Liathain has previously been a member of the SWP in UCD and he was a part of the Socialist Alternative split from the SWP. Within months Mr. O'Liathain joined Labour and is now becoming a candidate imposed by HQ on a local branch.
Vote #1 Donal "Socialism From Below, Candidate Imposed from the Top" O'Liathain
Rumour has it that Labour is thinking of running another UCD hacks in Dundrum or Rathfarnham Electoral areas. Anyone know enough to elaborate?
Labour are only running one candidate in Dundrum. Cllr Aidan Culhane is going for re-election. Cian O'Callaghan- a former UCD student and 2 term USI officer- is living in this area but is not running.
Far as I know the only UCD hack they are running is Donal O'Liathain.
Last year with the direct election of Pat Rabbit the party highlighted its democractic and grass root credentials!
With the actions now being taken by HQ to impose candidates on local constituencies, Rabbit's Stalinist control of the party is now clear to see. The huge amount of candidates now being selected by the HQ is something that never happened under R. Quinn and former general secretary Ray Kavanagh. I wonder is a coincidence that the Dick Springs backroom boys are now incharge. This sort of dismisal of the grass roots and arrogance let to the demise of the party under Spring.
With regards to Chris O'Malley, he was co-opted as a councillor when Gilmore resigned. He was defeated behind Dillon and Cole at a selection committiee but was put on the Ticket by HQ. He is a good drinking buddy of Pat Rabbit in Doneahy and Nesbitts!
As far a i have heard Cian O'Callaghan is seeking to be added to the ticket by HQ.
Martin Caden is correct. Last year the labour Party in Sligo and headquarters decided that only two candidates should run in the Strandhill area and Caden was encouraged to put his name forward.
In the intervening period the blueshirt councillor Jimmy MCGarry was brought into the party.
In January this year labour headquarters confirmed that two candidates would run.
When the convention was called for 6 February it was then realised that MCGarry would not have the support of enough delegates to get a nomination (the majority of delegates would be Brees supporters and they would also be backing Caden.)
Headquarters then cancelled the convention.
They then announced that there would be three candidates for the Strandhill area and a new convention was called for 21 February guaranteing MCGarry a nommination.
I figure that labour headquarters would accept Liam Lawlor if they thought it would give them an extra seat.
Bree and the left should now consider reorganising the Independent Socialst Party
Here, here!
Bree and any remaining lefts in the Lp should now see that it is futile remaining in the Labour Party. It is an undemocratic organisation that is nigh impossible to 'reclaim' at this stage. Bree and any supporters he has in the party shoudl break with Labour and contest the elections as an independents and following the elctions discuss with other forces on the left of the workers movement the possibility of a new party to really represent working class people.
When was Joan Collins selected to run for the SP?
My understanding from reading the comments from SPers here, was that she was named originally on a list of possible candidates but that no selection convention has been held in that area.
Spers have stated this is required by law (can any legal eagle confirm this?). But Joan has not been ratified as a candidate by the SP National Committee.
I love it, just love it....
Once more someone brings me kicking and screaming into a petty arguement. Im not running as a candidate. It was suggested by a number of members of the branch but never even went as far as head office. The idea was tossed around and then discarded .
This crap about being "a candidate imposed by HQ on a local branch... who are none too happy " has quite obviously been pulled out of someones ass just so they can take a quick and cheap pot-shot at the Labour Party.
Whoever you are I'd ask three things of you
1) Stop doing this petty sectarian bullshit.
2) Please don't call me 'Mr O'Liathain'
3) Sign your real name.
What a shame Donal and a waste!!
Actually the SP have stated that no selection convention has taken place in her branch. Please get your facts straight
Does any credible person still believe that Socialist Alternative is a left wing split from the SWP??
Donal is still a member of Socialist Alternative
"Actually the SP have stated that no selection convention has taken place in her branch. Please get your facts straight"
Oh alright, so that makes it true then.
They also said she was going to be a candidate. Or is the airbrush out.
"In a previous list of possible candidates published in the "Socialist Voice" Joan Collins's name, along with a number of other possible candidates, was included. By law the SP (as a registered political party) is obliged to hold selection conventions to select candidates. The latest issue of the "Voice" included a list of candidates that had been selected and indicated that other candidates might run in a number of other area, including Dublin City Council."
This was posted by "SP Member Sunday, Feb 1 2004, 12:45pm" . No one contradicted him.
Yes it must be true, I would have thought that the SP know whether or not somebody has been officially endorsed as a candidate or not.
What's this I hear about the SWP sigining up Christy Moore as a member just so he can stand in the election?
I can't see the any conflict with the two SP posts.
Obviously selection conventions have taken place for some areas and not for others.
What's the problem?
For F%"*s sake! The SP paper Voice named her as a candidate! Then a couple of issues later it dropped her as a candidate! Explain that please?
In his masters Voice it said she had been chosen as a candidate for Crumlin. Why is there now a doubt about her candidacy?
"The Socialist Party intends to stand in the following areas:
Swords Ward Councillor Clare Daly;
Mulhuddart Councillor Ruth Coppinger, Helen Redwood;
Castleknock Susan Fitzgerald;
Balbriggan Tadhg Kenehan;
Howth Brian Greene;
Tallaght Central Mick Murphy;
Dundrum Lisa Maher;
Cork North Central Mick Barry;
Drogheda (Laurance Gate Ward) Frank Gallagher;
Crumlin Joan Collins;
South West Inner City
The Socialist Party is also considering standing in Malahide, Lucan, Limerick and Wexford. "
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