Labour at war as Howlin’s leadership is challenged
Party suspends former tánaiste aide
A ‘CIVIL WAR’ has broken out in Labour over the future of Brendan Howlin’s leadership – with members expressing fears the party is ‘sleepwalking towards oblivion’.
To date, six councillors have declared they do not have confidence in Mr Howlin’s continued leadership of the party.
Yesterday, the leadership struck back with a declaration by 16 of Labour’s current 58 councillors that ‘the utterances of the last few days do not have the support of all Labour councillors and while we do support full membership engagement in any leadership election, we do not feel this is the right time for a change’.
The statement was signed by 16 councillors nationwide.
Mr Howlin has also been warned the party will not tolerate a managed succession from him to the Dublin senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin.
One senior party figure said: ‘Our concern is that Howlin is only hanging on now to ensure the leadership passes to Aodhán Ó Ríordáin rather than Alan Kelly. They are deluded.’
The growing unease first surfaced when Laois councillor Noel Tuohy called on Mr Howlin to set up ‘a democratic leadership contest within the Labour party, so that the party can revive, restore and refocus itself in the autumn’.
‘It is time for Brendan to facilitate a proper democratic leadership election,’ Mr Tuohy said. ‘Otherwise, I regretfully fear the Labour Party is sleepwalking towards oblivion.’
Speaking to the MoS, the councillor, who was the sole Labour seat gain in the two recent council and general elections, said: ‘Brendan How- Labour has suspended Ed brophy – the former chief of staff to tánaiste Joan burton, and now a senior adviser to Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe.
It is believed that Mr brophy’s decision to join a FG minister has caused annoyance among former Labour colleagues. The party has cited a ‘conflict of interest’.
a notice of motion to the Labour Party Executive board states that a number of members are employed in a political capacity for Government ministers and ministers of State. The board considers that such work, in principle, ‘gives rise to a conflict lin should seek a mandate from the members. It is time the members had a say.
‘A terrible decision was taken to elect Brendan Howlin without a vote. Morally it was the wrong thing to do.’
Mr Tuohy said that while he has ‘huge regard’ for Mr Howlin, ‘I think his era is over’.
‘He should call a motion of confidence in himself... He hasn’t convinced the people. between the duties owed to the members’ employers (and the employers’ party or political group) and the duties imposed by the party constitution on every party member including in particular the duty to support the party’s candidates at elections’.
It goes on to state that conflicts of interest ‘are of the members’ own making’.
Mr brophy is understood not to be the only Labour member suspended recently, after the directive was sent to members asking them to reply in writing if they would agree to a suspension of their membership of the party. We are saying, when you are behind the Independent Alliance there is a problem.’
The Labour councillor denied he is a stalking horse for Alan Kelly saying: ‘My position is simple, that those members who held the line on tough, hard issues such as Irish Water are entitled to have a say on who will be representing them in the next election.’
Mr Kelly was not available for comment, but several other councillors emerged to back Mr Tuohy and by implication Mr Kelly, including Dublin councillor Dermot Lacey.
‘I would have voted for Alan Kelly the last time,’ Mr Lacey said.
‘I will vote for Alan Kelly the next time. He may be tough, but he achieves,’ the former Lord Mayor of Dublin added.
‘Proper democratic leadership election’