Maura Bell refuses to rule out U-turn

SIX months after announcing her intention not to contest the upcoming local elections, sitting Labour councillor Maura Bell has not ruled out a sensational U-turn and another run in the Wexford Borough District, albeit away from the party she currently represents.

Just over three months out from polling day, political chatter and rumours are on the rise and, in the Wexford Borough District, the former Mayor and sitting councillor had set some tongues a-wagging.

The Labour Party have already unveiled two new female candidates, Vicky Barron and Catherine ‘Biddy’ Walsh, to contest the upcoming local elections alongside veteran councillor George Lawlor.

In recent months, there were rumours of some kind of rift between the party and Cllr Bell and that this had culminated in her decision to stand down. While these rumours were completely uncorroborated from within the party, several political commentators began to speculate that Cllr Bell’s name might just appear on the ballot papers on June 7 as an Independent candidate.

It was also suggested that the Wexford councillor had been approached by several other parties and groupings about a potential run.

It would certainly be a source of some embarrassment for Labour locally should a sitting councillor opt to strike out on their own to seek re-election.

When asked if she did in fact have her eye on contesting the 2024 local elections, Cllr Bell wouldn’t be drawn one way or another and greeted the query with a chuckle.

“I had said no initially, but who knows,” she laughed. “You’d never know. Can I say no comment? No comment.”

When asked again if she wished to clarify the position and address the rumours, Cllr Bell said:

“No comment...but when I make a decision, you’ll be the first to know.”

In September of last year, many were surprised to read that Cllr Bell would be stepping away from politics, having served just one term with Wexford County Council.

At the time, she stated: “I have many of my own projects I wish to pursue and develop, which will require more of my attention than I am able to commit to at present.”

Whether seeking election as an independent candidate has become a new addition to that list of projects, it appears we’ll just have to wait and see.