What Labour Gael need is more Richard Brutons

Considering that we now have Labour Gael, it is time for them to act coherently. Looking across the front benches of Labour Gael, you see many faces that you do not know, and many you do know, yet you don’t know why. Put simply, the Labour Gael front bench is largely unknown by the general population. Now, one thing they need to do is be more vocal, outspoken, and get the message out. But another thing they need to do is create a shadow cabinet.

The strongest weapon that Labour Gael have at the moment is Richard Bruton. Every week he comes up with some new figure about how under this government is letting Ireland turn into Boyz in the Hood. However exaggerated it may be, it is certainly effective. The main reason it is effective is that when people think of justice they see Richard Burton standing opposite Michael McDowell. They see what the government could be if Labour Gael win. They then get to decide who they would rather have in that position: Michael or Richard. For all our talk about policy and ideology, politics comes down to people. Richard being out front on Justice gives people a person to look towards.

But what of the rest of Labour Gael; where are the other Richard Brutons? Where are the other matches? We simply do not have them. We seem to get the parties taking turns attacking the government when instead we should have a coherent opposition. Labour Gael want to offer people a choice, but to do that they have to start squaring off the politicians, creating rivalries where people can actually see what the alternative looks like.

We should see Cowen vs Rabbitte, Liz vs Harney, Olivia Mitchell vs Cullen, Hogan vs Martin, Enright vs Hannifan, &c. When we see that, we really will see the alternative that Enda and Pat want to make, because now all we see is a Justice minister and nothing else.