White’s leadership bid weakened as TDs back Burton

Junior health minister Alex White’s late bid to lead Labour has been weakened after party TDs yesterday indicated their support for Social Protection Minister Joan Burton.

A chief trade union figure last night also called on both contenders to outline their thoughts on workers’ rights.

Mr White vowed to renew the party, regain the trust of members, and push the Labour party’s agenda in government.

Launching his leadership bid in Dublin, he blamed the medical card debacle on the Cabinet. He said Labour now needed to be “straight” with people.

Mr White also denied he had been involved in any “shafting” of leader Eamon Gilmore but that the Tánaiste had decided himself to step down: “There was nobody taken out.”

He said that he had been prepared to sign a motion of no confidence drafted by party TDs but that he had not threatened to resign.

He said he was the right person to lead the party: “We must steady our resolve as a party, and as a party in government. This requires steely determination, strong negotiating skills, and an ability to resolve problems.”

His confirmed bid against Ms Burton comes after Munster TDs Alan Kelly, Seán Sherlock, and Michael McCarthy put their names forward during the week for the deputy leadership role.

At the launch, Mr White was flanked by TDs Michael McNamara, Derek Nolan, Ciara Conway and senator John Gilroy, and a number of current and outgoing councillors.

But a number of TDs have now pledged support to Ms Burton, ahead of debates with members around the country.

Wicklow TD Anne Ferris said: “She has great experience. Polls have found she is the most popular minister in government too. She’s a safe pair of hands and has her own dynamic.”

She said that despite all the talk of a ‘generational gap’ between the candidates, Mr White was “not exactly a young turk”.

Party sources said Labour parliamentary party chairman Jack Wall had indicated his support for Ms Burton, as had junior ministers Seán Sherlock and Kathleen Lynch. Dublin Mid-West TD Robert Dowds said he was backing Ms Burton, following his endorsement of Alan Kelly for the deputy leadership position.

Meanwhile, Siptu president Jack O’Connor, who holds a Labour membership, said he had yet to make up his mind on who to back.

“It will be influenced by what they say over the coming days on the trade union movement and its role in the future,” he said.