The Labour Party leadership election, 2014

ABSTRACT

This research report considers the contest for leader of the Irish Labour Party in 2014. The report discusses how the selection of leaders in Irish political parties has evolved in a manner similar to the experience internationally. The contest in 2014 is examined with specific attention given to the organisation of the election, the campaign and its outcome. The concluding section highlights a number of issues arising from this contest that have implications wider than Irish politics.

KEYWORDS:

• Party leader elections
• Ireland
• Labour Party

Acknowledgement

The author would like to acknowledge the assistance of Deirdre Gilliane (Fianna Fáil), Tom Curran (Fine Gael), Eoin Ó Broin (Sinn Féin), and Billie Sparks and Ita McAuliffe (Labour).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1. Gilmore Quits as Leader, Irish Times, 26 May 2014.

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/eamon-gilmore-quits-as-labour-leader-1.1809400 (12 September 2014).

2. The smaller, and now defunct, PDs introduced an electoral college system in 2004 while participating in a second-term coalition with Fianna Fáil.

3. The Greens use the Borda Count system unless only two candidates are contesting, in which case a simple majority is required. See Baker (2008) for how this system for used in electing the Green chairperson in 2007.

4. Having overseen the negotiation of a Programme for Government with Fianna Fáil, Sargent resigned as leader to keep a personal pre-election pledge not to serve in a Fianna Fáil-Green coalition. His successor, John Gormley, was appointed to cabinet on 14 June 2007 but did not take over as party leader until 17 July 2007 when Sargent’s resignation took effect.

5. Harney led the PDs from 1995 until 2006 when she was succeeded by Michael McDowell, who secured the position without a contest. When McDowell resigned after losing his Dáil seat in 2007, Harney temporarily returned as leader.

6. Quotations in this section are taken from Guidelines for Leadership Election June–July 2014 issued in the names of Ita McAuliffe, General Secretary and Richard Humphreys, Returning Officer, 3 June 2014. (All internal documents cited are in possession of the author.)

7. The functions, term of office and system of election for the Labour leader – and deputy leader – are set out in Article 12 of the party’s constitution. See http://www.labour.ie/party/constitution/#article12 (11 July 2015).

8. General Secretary’s Report to Special Executive Board meeting, 27 May 2014.

9. Letter to TDs from Ita McAuliffe, 27 May 2014.

10. Under the Fianna Fáil electoral college system, nominations must open within three days of the vacancy arising and remain open for a maximum of another seven days. All candidates for leader must be an elected TD who holds the party whip, and their nomination requires the signatures of at least five other party TDs. The Fine Gael nomination rules are more stringent with potential candidates needing the signatures of at least 20 signatures of parliamentary party members, at least 25 signatures of members of the party’s Council of Local Representatives and at least five signatures of members of its Executive Council.

11. Proposed format for Hustings. Labour Party document. 3 June 2014. These meetings took place on: 9 June (Dublin), 16 June (Galway), 19 June (Cork), 21 June (Portlaoise) and 26 June (Dublin). A number of other non-Labour debates were also held during the campaign.

12. Instructions to Voters. Labour Party document.

13. ‘Alex White slams Enda Kenny over resignation of Garda boss Callinan’ Irish Independent, 1 June 2014. http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/alex-white-slams-enda-kenny-over-resignation-of-garda-boss-callinan-30319693.html (4 August 2015).

14. ‘Burton front-runner in Labour leadership contest’ Irish Times, 27 May 2015. http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/burton-front-runner-in-labour-leadership-contest-1.1810086 (4 August 2015).