Chastened Labour Party rules out immediate return to office

The Labour Party has ruled out entering government, which places more pressure on Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to do a deal.

Members of the Labour Party who are now battling to get seven TDs elected in order to retain speaking rights in the Dáil feel there is “no appetite” to return to any sort of government coalition.

The party is still reeling from the massive losses sustained in Friday’s election having gone from a historic high of 37 seats in 2011 into single digit figures.

The cabinet is due to meet today and there will be a meeting of Labour ministers before this. Many of them failed to be elected.

The Labour parliamentary party, which now is made up of more senators than TDs, will also meet later in the week when the final number of Labour seats is known.

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin was still in a battle for a seat in Dublin Bay North last night, while a recount in Longford-Westmeath meant that Willie Penrose still did not know his faith.

Labour needs at least one of these candidates to make it over the line to have seven elected TDs, which would provide it with speaking rights and funding.

Leader Joan Burton has said she will stay on in a caretaker capacity until a new government is formed.

A spokesman for Ms Burton yesterday said: “I would not anticipate an appetite to return to government.”

This line has hardened even further among members who believe that they have no mandate to return to power.

Speaking on local radio yesterday Labour’s deputy leader Alan Kelly categorically ruled out doing business with any government party.

“The Labour Party won’t be part of government. We need a period in opposition,” he said.

However, he refused to rule out going for the leadership of the party himself. Labour rules dictate there must be a leadership election within six months of the party being returned to opposition.

Some sources in the party believe this will take place in June and Ms Burton will not be re-elected.

Junior Minister Kevin Humphreys, who failed to get re-elected, said the parliamentary party will meet this week when all the counts have finished and there will be a meeting of the executive board then.

“Nobody is talking about government or forming a government. We were not given a mandate to go into government,” he said.

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