Party members should be able to elect their leaders, says Rabbitte

ORDINARY political party members should be allowed to elect their leader, Labour leader Pat Rabbitte said last night, criticising other parties for dismissing the idea.

Heading into his first party conference as leader since his election by grassroots members six months ago, Mr Rabbitte also raised question marks over Environment Minister Martin Cullen’s desires to change election spending rules.

Changing the system of electing the leader is a positive risk to take and party members expect and deserve to be involved in decision making, rather than just being used as election fodder, he said.