Gilmore seeks to dodge conference ‘bloodbath’

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore is set to cancel this year’s Labour Party conference in order to avoid a “bloodbath” showdown in the run-up to the budget.

The leadership is looking to move the gathering from this September to the last date it can be held under party rules — Apr 2014.

The conference was originally due to be held this April, but was delayed because of the Irish presidency of the EU.

However, EU moves to harmonise eurozone financial statements by arranging all annual budgets to be held in October have caused concern that the conference would be used to dictate an anti-austerity agenda.

One senior Labour source said: “It could turn into a bloodbath if we have it in the run-up to the budget. Constituencies will be putting down motions to try and bind TDs to vote against austerity measures.”

Postponing the conference a second time would provoke strong criticism of Mr Gilmore from within the party.

Such a move would not only allow opponents to accuse him of running from the grassroots, it would also ensure that rebel party chairman Colm Keaveney stays in his key position as a focal point for dissent until at least Apr 2014.

Mr Gilmore already faces increased opposition in the Dáil after the Irish Examiner revealed on Saturday that four rebel Labour TDs who quit the party whip in protest at his leadership expect to be given much greater speaking time in the Oireachtas after a meeting with the Ceann Comhairle.

Despite a concerted bid by the leadership to oust Mr Keaveney as chairman after he voted against child all-owance cuts in the budget, Mr Gilmore was forced to concede Mr Keaveney could only be removed by a vote by delegates at conference.

Labour’s ruling body, which Mr Keaveney still chairs, will decide on the date of the conference early next month.

The previous conference in Galway last April was marred by a mass anti-austerity protest.