Three deputies emerge as front-runners to replace Quinn

THREE deputies have emerged as front-runners in the Labour Party leadership race last night following the resignation of Ruairi Quinn.

These include the party’s deputy leader, Brendan Howlin, Eamon Gilmore and Pat Rabbitte.

While none have declared their intention to run for the leadership, it was widely speculated last night that they would throw their hats in the ring.

While Joan Burton was also being mentioned as a possible contender, most party insiders agreed that she would not be in the final shake-up.

Five years ago, Mr Howlin lost out to Mr Quinn in the leadership race and he is now the favourite among senior Labour party activists to take over the helm.

The Wexford deputy is one of their best Dáil performers and someone who can be sent out to bat on any issue - no matter how complex or embarrassing.

Mr Howlin is also quite combative and does not take any prisoners - an attribute now deemed essential for the new Labour leader.

“After all he is the one who will be marking Bertie’s card in the Dáil, and we need a good performer,” a senior party source said.

The 46-year-old deputy also has Cabinet experience, having served as both Minister for Health and Environment in the Rainbow coalition from 1994 - 1997.

If Mr Howlin throws his hat in the ring, he needs to get the support of the Dublin deputies to secure the leadership.

If either Mr Gilmore or Mr Rabbitte enter the race this time, he will have a battle on his hands. These are both Dublin-based deputies - Mr Gilmore has a very strong following in Dun Laoghaire while Mr Rabbitte gets his support in the new, largely working-class constituency of Dublin Mid-West.

On the Dáil performance test, Mr Rabbitte would definitely match if not beat Mr Howlin - he was voted best orator in the last Dáil by the political correspondents. And he also built up a good public profile during the Oireachtas DIRT inquiry into bogus non-resident account holders.

But both Mr Gilmore and Mr Rabbitte will have one major obstacle to overcome if they enter the leadership race - they are both former Democratic Left TDs.

While Labour and DL merged in 1997, many senior party sources feel the new Labour Party is still not ready for a leader that would not hail from the party’s traditional roots.

And this bias would definitely go against Rabbitte and Gilmore, since the new leader will most likely be elected by the party’s 3,500 members for the first time.

On numbers alone, Mr Howlin would seem have the edge here - only time will tell if old habits die hard.