- TheJournal.ie - Eamon Gilmore resigns as Labour Party leader
Eamon gilmore has announced his resignation as leader of the Labour Party, following his party’s disastrous performance in the local election.
The announcement follows news earlier today that Gilmore would face two no-confidence motions in the coming weeks, to be tabled by both the party’s central council and the parliamentary party.
This follows Labour’s humiliating defeat in the local elections, with the party losing seats in council’s all across the country while Sinn Féin, independents and more left-wing candidates gained ground.
The party has seen support slip from 14 per cent in 2009’s elections to just over half that this time around and looks set to take just 60 seats in the locals. Gilmore was also due to meet with Taoiseach Enda Kenny this evening to discuss the fallout from the elections and a Cabinet reshuffle but it is unclear if this meeting will still take place.
- TheJournal.ie - Here’s how Labour will select their new leaders
In light of the resignation of Labour leader Eamon Gilmore, the search for a new leader – and deputy leader- is already under way.
Early betting suggests that current deputy leader Joan Burton is in pole position, being a 1/3 favourite, followed by ministers Brendan Howlin and Alan Kelly at 9/4.
Ita McAuliffe, the Labour Party general secretary has already notified members that an election will take place.
Here’s how it will go:
- Nominations for both positions open tomorrow and close at midday on 3 June.
- If a ballot is required, postal ballots will be issued on 9 June, to be returned by midday on 4 July.
- A count would be held immediately thereafter.
The party’s legal advisor will be the Returning Officer and their accountants will act as independent observers.
It is expected that a new leader will be elected on 4 July.
Eamon Gilmore has resigned this afternoon as Labour Party leader.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny said Mr Gilmore and the Labour Party have been "courageous in making the collective decisions that have pulled Ireland back from the brink of economic collapse and put the country on the path towards recovery."
In his statement this afternoon, Mr Gilmore said he deeply regrets the loss of good public representatives in the recent elections.
Party and Government must move on to a new phase, he said.
"We must act on the clear message we received last Friday", he told the press conference at Iveagh House.
A new Labour leader will be chosen before the end of the current Dáil term.
Mr Gilmore expressed no view on who the next leader should be, or whether there should be generational change.
However, the Labour Party has a better chance of renewal with a new leader, he said.
Mr Gilmore will stand for his Dáil seat at the next General Election.
He said he does not think his departure will destabilise the Government.
He met Cabinet colleagues and junior ministers this afternoon ahead of his statement.
The Labour leader faced "no confidence" motions at the party's next Central Council and Parliamentary Party meetings in the aftermath of the Local and European Elections.
A motion for the Parliamentary Party meeting was proposed by TDs Ciara Conway, Dominic Hannigan, Michael McNamara, Ged Nash, Derek Nolan, Aodhan Ó Riordan, Arthur Spring and Senator John Gilroy.
Separately a "no confidence" motion was submitted to the party's Central Council, which is made up of members of the National Executive, representatives from each constituency, and also TD and councillor representatives.
Labour Party rules state that in the event of a vacancy in the leadership, the deputy leader becomes acting leader.
All party members registered for at least 18 months have a vote in electing the new leader.
The timing of the election is up to the Executive Board, but cannot be more than 45 days after the close of nominations.
Read Mr Gilmore's resignation statement here
Read Mr Kenny's statement on Eamon Gilmore's resignation here
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