Brendan Howlin backed for leadership of Labour

Labour figures have backed acting minister Brendan Howlin to take over the leadership as recriminations break out over mismanagement of the party’s election campaign.

Rows erupted behind closed doors yesterday as embattled Labour leader Joan Burton presided over the first meeting of failed election candidates since polling day.

Several outgoing and former Labour parliamentarians have openly backed Mr Howlin to take over from Ms Burton, as questions remain over the party’s future.

With just seven TDs after the worst election in Labour’s history, its former deputies, senators, and ministers met for five hours in west Dublin to discuss rebuilding the party.

Miscommunication during the election campaign, Labour’s decision to align itself with Fine Gael, and questions about Ms Burton’s leadership were all raised in the meeting yesterday.

Ms Burton last night stood firmly over her decision not to instigate a compulsory post-election Labour leadership vote until the formation of the next government is decided.

Michael McCarthy, a former TD for Cork South West, openly called for Ms Burton to go. “The process we need to embark on is in terms of recovering Labour fortunes in the local authorities and the national parliament means the end of Joan Burton’s leadership, then, so be it,” he said.

“So my preference would be for Brendan Howlin to become the new leader of the Labour Party in the current difficulties we find ourselves in.”

Former Dublin North-West TD John Lyons and former banking inquiry chairman Ciaran Lynch also said Mr Howlin would be a good leader.

Outgoing senator Mary Moran said a change in the leadership was “absolutely needed”.

Acting Communications Minister Alex White said the party’s messaging had been wrong. “The people were approaching the election still in the context of the economic crash and the impact that that had on their material circumstances,” said the former Dublin-Rathdown TD.

Others, such as former Dublin Mid-West TD Joanna Tuffy and Cllr Pamela Kearns, were hesitant about rushing into a leadership contest.

Some members said anger, cross words and disgruntlement was exchanged across the floor.

Party chairman Willie Penrose insisted that Labour is “united”. He said Alan Kelly, Labour’s deputy leader, had apologised for any “hurtful” actions during the election campaign

Ms Burton, leaving the meeting yesterday, said she stood over her decision to hold off on having a leadership vote until after the next government is formed.

Asked about his name coming up for the leadership, Mr Howlin said he is not looking for support and wanted to listen to his colleagues.