Arthur Spring backs Joan Burton for Labour leadership

Kerry TD Arthur Spring has confirmed he will not be entering the contest for the leadership of the Labour Party.

Mr Spring said he will, instead, be backing Joan Burton’s bid and he also made clear he will not be running for the deputy leader’s position.

"I won't be contesting either position and I will be endorsing Joan Burton, after consulting with her regarding her proposals for leadership," he told The Irish Times this morning.

“I consulted with party members and people I would confide in and the conclusion was Joan Burton had more to offer at this point in time to the party and the electorate.”

The nomination process for Labour members seeking to become party leader or deputy leader closes at noon today.

Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton and Minister of State Alex White are the only candidates to join the race to succeed Eamon Gilmore so far.

Waterford TD Ciara Conway declared her interest in the deputy leadership yesterday, and pledged not to accept a ministerial position if elected.

Announcing her candidature yesterday, Ms Conway said she was not seeking the position to achieve executive power but to focus on the future of the party.

“I want to influence the direction of this party, to represent its values, to represent the voice of the membership honestly, without being compromised by the vested interest of Cabinet or ministerial position. I want to be an independent member of the leadership team.”

Other contenders for the deputy leadership are Ministers of State Sean Sherlock and Alan Kelly and Cork South West TD Michael McCarthy.

When nominations close at noon today party general secretary Ita McAuliffe will meet the candidates and their agents to explain the procedure to be followed in the leadership elections.

The entire paid-up membership of the party will vote to elect the new leader and deputy leader. Each candidate will get a list of the 5,000 or so party members and their contact details and the campaign will begin.

It is expected that four hustings will be arranged at which the candidates can address party members seeking their support. Dublin, Cork, Galway and Portlaoise, where the Tom Johnson Summer School is being held, are the provisional locations for the husting.

Members who are not more than two years in arrears will be entitled to vote if they pay up their €15 a year membership fee before June 13th.

An appeals panel will be established to consider the claims of members who feel they have been unfairly treated.

The closing date for the return of ballot papers will be noon on July 4th. The counting of votes will begin immediately.