Tadgh McNally: Seán Sherlock's departure leaves major questions for Labour in Cork

Seán Sherlock announced on Monday he will not stand in the next general election. Picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins

After 21 years of unbroken service in the Dáil — and 27 years total — there won’t be a Sherlock representing Cork East after the next general election, with Labour now facing into choppy electoral waters.

Seán Sherlock took the decision to not run again after the Electoral Commission took his base of Mallow and shunted it out of Cork East and into Cork North Central. Mr Sherlock admitted as much in a statement announcing his departure from politics.

“The commission had a difficult job to do, but the impact on Mallow and Cork East has been profound. I always anticipated some change to our constituency, but the scale of that change is so extensive that it caused me to reflect on my own political future,” he said.

The decision by Mr Sherlock to step back follows hot on the heels of the same announcement by Labour stalwart and former party leader Brendan Howlin, who served as a TD for Wexford for 36 years.

While there is ongoing speculation about the political future of Alan Kelly, party sources are adamant he will run again, with one source saying he is “energised”.

Labour facing a crisis

With the loss of these two long-serving TDs, Labour is facing a crisis as it loses its representation in working class areas around the country.

In Cork, the party took just three council seats at the 2019 local elections, across both the city and county councils. Ten years previous, the party took home 14 seats, beating Fianna Fáil to be the second biggest party in Cork City Council.

The immediate option to replace Mr Sherlock will be difficult due to the redraw, with councillor John Maher likely to be the party’s candidate in Cork North-Central.

However, the party will face an uphill struggle to retain its seat in Cork East, with the seat previously been hyper-focused around Mr Sherlock’s base in Mallow. With Fianna Fáil narrowly missing out on two seats in 2020, his departure may push them over the line.

The loss of Mr Sherlock points to a bigger problem for Labour as it continues to struggle at between 3% and 4% in opinion polls: the party has failed to regain any ground, despite twice changing its leadership since the last election.

Growth of Social Democrats

The growth of the Social Democrats is also likely putting pressure on Labour, with both parties having similar core values.

The party will hope it can turn to candidates such as Senator Mark Wall in Kildare, who the party hopes will be able to take a seat at the next election.

The difficulty for Mr Wall is that, due to Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl being automatically returned, the normal four-seater becomes a much trickier three-seater, where Labour has struggled in recent years.

While Labour will likely struggle on into the next general election, its hopes will be that it can regain some ground in the years ahead as a new government is formed and memories of 2011 fade further and further into the distance.

As Mr Sherlock himself says: “I know that there are positive days ahead for the party. Labour is needed in Irish politics.”