LABOUR LEADER Eamon Gilmore has defended his party's electoral strategy in Laois-Offaly and called on voters to support its candidate, former editor of the Leinster ExpressJohn Whelan, despite internal party opposition.
Mr Gilmore was responding to questions about the party’s decision to forgo the interview process in the selection of a Laois-Offaly candidate.
Speaking at the opening of Mr Whelan’s campaign office in Portlaoise, Mr Gilmore admitted “communication wasn’t as good as it might have been” but he insisted the selection had been made “in accordance with procedures which were adopted by the Labour Party at its conference in Mullingar”.
“I would ask all members of the Labour Party, all supporters of the Labour Party to get behind the party, get behind our candidate in Laois-Offaly to win that seat.”
Mr Gilmore admitted he was unaware that former Laois-Offaly general election candidate Jim O’Brien had handed in a letter of resignation a week ago.
Prior to his resignation, Mr O’Brien had written to the Labour leader outlining his concerns about the manner in which he believed supporters were being treated.
Accusing the party of acting in an undemocratic manner he said: “The high aspirations of this party surely can only be achieved when the values of our end purpose are knitted into every action we take on the way to achieving that purpose. It appears to me that the party is clearly willing and able to walk across the bodies of its loyal members in a headlong rush for the levers of power.”
Mr Whelan dismissed any suggestion that Labour was divided in Laois-Offaly, while Mr Gilmore said “what happened at the selection convention is not relevant anymore”.
Meanwhile, Socialist Party leader Joe Higgins addressed a meeting in Portlaoise last night where a new left-wing group was expected to be established for Laois-Offaly. It is envisaged the group will affiliate to the United Left Alliance.