Cannon: I’ve 14 months to rejuvenate PDs

THE new leader of the Progressive Democrats, Senator Ciarán Cannon, has given himself just 14 months to restore the party’s fortunes.

Mr Cannon yesterday said the party would have to succeed at next summer’s local election or European elections. If it did not, it would be the second election failure in a row after last year’s general election and the party would then have to “take a collective decision”, he said.

He defined success as winning 35 to 40 seats in the local elections, an ambitious target given the party currently has just 27 councillors. “I’ll be frank and honest in saying to you if the numbers aren’t increased, we will have to take serious stock of what the future may hold for us.”