Cork success the way for Labour, says Gilmore

THE leadership of the Labour Party has said it must learn from the success of Cork’s general election candidates as it seeks to expand the party.

The election of newcomers Ciarán Lynch and Sean Sherlock, along with a stronger than expected performance by Senator Michael McCarthy, were seen as the significant positives in an otherwise poor performance at the polls nationally.

Speaking at a debate in Cork city, between the two people striving to be his deputy, the new party leader, Eamon Gilmore, said he wants to replicate the performance of the southern candidates.

He said if it could do this the party should realistically expect to win 30 seats at the next election. “We have to look in terms of building this party so that we can we have a viable candidate in every constituency in the country and I believe we can do this,” he said.

Mr Gilmore was in town for the first time as Labour leader to support deputies Joan Burton and Jan O’Sullivan who were canvassing southern branch members for support.

Both are contesting next month’s election for deputy leader and spoke to regional representatives gathered at the Imperial Hotel.

Votes from party members for its deputy leader election have to be cast by October 4.