Gilmore Announced Labour Leader this Afternoon

Well its hardly surprising at this stage but GIlmore has been announced Labour leader this afternoon once nominations closed. There will be a contest for deputy-leader between Joan Burton and Jan O Sullivan. Both leader and deputy leader will be in situ on October 5.

There will be a brief victory speech (update: see here) but it seems he has begun to mark out his own agenda in quite broad terms, speaking of an ‘independent strategy’ in a variety of interviews as well as rebuilding local parties into campaigning organisations. That much is little more than the stuff that would be expected of Gilmore but it must be treated by him as more than spin to successfuly contest the two forthcoming elections.

He has hinted also that he disagrees with some of the analyis of labour policy put out by some journalists believing instead that it is a clearer and more positive narrative derived from the policy that is needed. Very little in specific policy proposals has been announced although there maybe something eye-catching today or in the coming days.