Gilmore told to hold ‘showdown’ conference soon

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore has been put on notice that a “showdown” conference must be held as soon as possible to avert a meltdown within Labour.

Rebel party chairman Colm Keaveney demanded the delayed delegate gathering be held in July, or September at the latest — just weeks before the next budget in early October.

The conference, which is certain to become a lightning-rod moment for Mr Gilmore’s future after Labour’s humiliation in the Meath East by-election, has already been put back once, and the leadership recently blocked moves to set a firm replacement date.

The party’s executive board is due to decide on the matter at a meeting on Apr 18, but some senior figures fear Mr Gilmore will seek to push it out past the October budget, or even to the last date it can be held under Labour rules — Apr 2014 — in order to deprive critics of a platform to attack his leadership and the Coalition’s austerity agenda.

“The conference needs to be held before the summer so we can have a proper debate about where we are,” said a spokesperson for Mr Keaveney, who still chairs the executive board despite being expelled from the parliamentary party for voting against welfare cuts.

“It certainly must be held by September before the autumn budget — members would insist on that.”

Fellow executive board member, Carlow-Kilkenny TD Ann Phelan, also said a conference was needed as soon as logistically possible, even if that proved a headache for Mr Gilmore.

“Even if it is uncomfortable for the leadership, they will have to do what the membership wants,” she said. “I would certainly not want to see it pushed out beyond September.”

A senior Labour source said: “The party is facing meltdown; we need a conference as soon as possible to put us back on track. It will be a showdown moment — but that is what we need.”