Labour doomed by secondary role

After Labour’s poor showing in the local and European elections at the weekend, and the resignation of Eamon Gilmore as party leader, it is folly to think a new leader can save their season.

Labour voters metaphorically hoisted winning candidates on their shoulders into Leinster House like some form of divine saviours. As soon as Eamon Gilmore strutted into government with Fine Gael, in 2011, they were never going to get to 2016 with that same level of support.

Moreover, whoever is in line to be lumped with the poison chalice of Labour leader will not be in a strong enough position to lead the party into the next general election, whenever it may come.

A change of face at the top of Labour may appear to herald a new direction for them, but it would be foolish for the party to think it will change the direction of the Government. Fine Gael will not bow to a fresh face with a bright new rose on their lapel, and that individual can expect a similar role to Gilmore’s. This government will continue with austerity, albeit on a lesser scale than recent budgets, but no matter what occurs in the meantime, Fine Gael and Labour will be remembered as an austerity government.

The only thing that will change for Labour will be the ashen leader who walks out to the electorate in the next election as the face of the desecrated party that broke promises and played ‘excuse me’ politics for five years with their larger, coalition partners. That leader won’t be able to rebuild Labour with any shred of credibility if they have spent even five minutes in government with Fine Gael.

Justin Kelly

Edenderry

Co Offaly