The 2020 Labour Party leadership election was a leadership election within Ireland's Labour Party that was triggered when Brendan Howlin stepped down as Labour leader on 12 February 2020, in the aftermath of the party's poor showing at the 2020 general election.
The election was won by Alan Kelly who received 55% of the votes cast.
Background
Brendan Howlin was elected unopposed as Labour Party leader in a 2016 leadership election. While Labour had a modest gain of six seats in the 2019 local elections, it lost one seat in the 2020 general election, resulting in the party having its lowest ever number of seats in Dáil Éireann with just six TDs elected. Howlin subsequently announced that he would resign as Labour leader stating that it had been "an honour" to lead the party but feels it is time to step down.
Procedure
The Labour Party Executive Board met in the Gresham Hotel in Dublin on 15 February to agree on the rules for the contest. Only party TDs were eligible for the post of leader, and candidates must have been nominated by either two TDs (they could nominate themselves) or five constituency councils. All members of the party had a vote, provided they had been a paid-up party member since 28 August 2018.
Postal ballot papers were sent to Labour members on 15 March and the closing date for returning votes was on 3 April. A voter had to be a fully paid-up member for 21 days before polling day - meaning the last day they could sign up was 13 March.
Candidates Confirmed
Candidate Born Political office Nominated by Announced(age )Portroe, County TipperaryTD for Tipperary TD for Tipperary North Deputy leader of the Labour Party Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport MEP for South Senator Duncan SmithSeán Sherlock18 February 2020(age )DublinTD for Dublin Bay North Senator Minister of State at the Department of Health Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality TD for Dublin North-Central Ged NashIvana Bacik18 February 2020
Declined The following individuals were discussed in the media as potential leadership candidates, but did not stand: Seán Sherlock, TD for Cork East, former Minister of State (endorsed Kelly) Ged Nash, TD for Louth, former Minister of State (endorsed Ó Ríordáin)
Debates Several hustings events and public debates were scheduled to take place throughout the leadership campaign; however, as a result of the COVID-19 situation, the Labour Party canceled the remaining hustings in Galway and Dublin.
Date Location2 March 2020Clayton Hotel Silver Springs, Cork5 March 2020Clayton Hotel, Dublin Airport9 March 2020Mullingar Park Hotel, Mullingar
References