Labour Constituency Proposes motion in support of Leader on electoral strategy
Issued : Tuesday 8 March, 2005
Areas : Kilkenny
Carlow/Kilkenny Constituency Party supports deal with Fine Gael and Greens
The Carlow/Kilkenny Constituency Organisation of the Labour Party has unanimously supported a motion to the party’s annual conference fully endorsing party leader Pat Rabbitte’s electoral strategy. In a clear signal of its support for the party leadership, the members decided to forward the following motion to its conference:
“Conference Supports the electoral strategy outlined by the Party Leader, and fully supports Labour Party participation in the provision of an alternative Government.
Conference supports the removal of Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats from Government and supports the negotiation of an electoral programme acceptable to Labour Party principles, negotiated with Fine Gael, the Green Party and other like-minded opposition groups and individuals.”
Speaking after the party’s Constituency Council meeting on Monday night, Constituency Chairperson, Cllr. Seán Ó hArgáin, said the members were clearly of the view that the party needed to provide a clear choice to the electorate.
“The message we got on the doorsteps in the Local and European elections was crystal clear. People want a change of Government at the next General election. They are fed up with the two-tier society that Fianna Fáil and the P.D.’s have created, and want the interests of ordinary working people brought to the fore. This can only be brought about by a Government driven by the Labour Party’s commitment to social justice and equality. To achieve this, the electorate needs to know exactly what alternative Government is on offer.
The pretence that a Government which fleeces the elderly of their life savings, which continues to fail the children in our schools, which fails to deliver on medical cards for hundreds of thousands of low-paid families, is a Socialist one, must be confronted.
We are seeking a Labour led Government, bearing in mind that only eight seats separated Labour and Fine Gael in the last General election, and we believe the best way to achieve this is to seize the initiative in moving an alternative Government forward.
We will be strongly arguing this case at our Party Conference and hope that our fellow members will agree the necessity for providing a clear view to the electorate.”
Cllr 
