Emotional Alan Kelly resigns as Labour Party leader
Alan Kelly (centre) leaving Leinster House, Dublin, after resigning on Wednesday evening. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire
Alan Kelly has announced he is to resign as Labour Party leader after his parliamentary colleagues told him they had lost confidence in him.
Delivering a public statement at Leinster House on Wednesday evening, Mr Kelly acknowledged that the party had not made progress in the opinion polls under his leadership.
In an emotional speech, Mr Kelly thanked his party members, staff, family and friends.
He singled out his wife Regina, who was by his side as he made his announcement on the plinth of Leinster House.
He said: “I am resigning as leader of the Labour Party.
“I was advised by my parliamentary colleagues on Tuesday morning that they had lost confidence in my leadership.
“It was a surprise to me,” he said.
Mr Kelly said the party had a “number of frank discussions in recent weeks” and “especially over the last week or so.”Â
He said it is his intention to stay on as a TD, and thanked the people of Tipperary for electing him in three elections.
Mr Kelly said it was “quite difficult” to gain momentum as a new party leader during the pandemic and acknowledged that Labour has remained stagnant in the polls.
He said: “Becoming leader of the Labour Party was the best political day of my life.
“I was very humbled and overwhelmed by the support I got.
“Ultimately, the leadership of the party is a decision for the Central Council parliamentary party have expressed their collective view.
“For that reason, I've decided to step down.”
It's understood that Ivana Bacik, who won a seat in the Dublin Bay South constituency last July, is tipped to succeed Mr Kelly.
The revealed earlier today that his position as leader has been in doubt after months of internal strife within the party.
The Labour parliamentary party members will meet this evening where they will decide the next steps, however, Mr Kelly's leadership has been the source of concern for many within the party for months.
It is understood that staffing issues have been a source of concern.
Sources also confirmed there had been criticism of Mr Kelly's leadership style as the party continues to stall in the polls.
One representative said that Mr Kelly's plan to improve the party would involve him "travelling around the country, pressing the flesh".
Another source said that issues had come to a head in last week's parliamentary party when Mr Kelly faced serious criticism from the representatives present, with one TD saying that they ultimately felt that the decision on Mr Kelly's future would lie with Dublin Fingal TD Duncan Smith.
"If Duncan says he has to go, he has to go," they said.
A senior Labour source said that it was: "Duncan (Smith) and Ged (Nash) and Sean Sherlock driving this" about the leadership heave.
While the staffing issue had been a factor, a source said "it's not the big thing, it's not what pushed people over the edge".
"It's all been very fraught. It has been a weird time for the party for a long time.
"There were fundamental conversations around his leadership happening before the latest controversy."
It is understood that many had been unhappy with Mr Kelly for a long time.
"It's not nice, it's grim."
It is understood there will be an emergency meeting of the executive board in the next 48 hours and an interim leader will be appointed. The executive will also have to decide on how any leadership contest will be run and the timing of this.
Membership are said to be “bewildered” by the news of Mr Kelly’s resignation.
“This is very much seen as a parliamentary party issue, the people we are seeing speaking out are saying they don’t understand and there’s no reason to resign.”
The has attempted to contact every member of the parliamentary party and key advisers in recent days to no reply.
Mr Kelly was announced as the new leader of the Labour Party in April 2020, having won 55% of the vote.
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