Dick Spring's nephew Arthur to run for Labour in Kerry North – West Limerick

[magic_norhan]

I'm sure Arthur will also be cheering on Alan Kelly just in case

[James Healy]

I liked Dick Spring. He was a great parliamentarian and a great orator. He had to play second fiddle to Albert Reynolds though, that must be hard, and he never recovered from it.

[redhead101]

Pull the other one why then did the selection commitee interview O'Brien and Spring, even Terry knew it was a done deal that Spring would run and they were just going through the formalities.

The interview committee is obliged to interview anybody who has expressed an interest in running. That would be why they would have interviewed both candidates.

You seem to be suggesting that by interviewing Terry they were expressing a preference for Spring.

The interview panel did not rule Terry out. He opted out himself because of health concerns, according to a previous post.

Had he remained in the race, he would have appeared on the ballot with Arthur, and the local membership would have decided who the candidate would be. That pretty much comes down to a straight head count, and whoever has the most supporters (in other words, whoever has signed up most members) wins the day.

There are two competing theories on this thread. One is that the Labour leadership stabbed Terry in the back so that Spring would get the nod, the other is that Spring triumphed, against the wishes of the leadership.

Both cannot be true, and in all likelihood, both are entirely false.

[RainyDay]

Had he remained in the race, he would have appeared on the ballot with Arthur, and the local membership would have decided who the candidate would be.

Not necessarily - It would have been up to the Candidate Selection Board to decide to put one or two candidates before the members. The CSB could possibly have rejected Terry.

Note that I know nothing about this particular rate - just want to point out the correct procedure.

[Rosmuc]

Like when Arthur Spring went up against Alan Kelly for the Euro nomination, uncle Dick filled buses and cars with anybody but real Labour members. For weeks before he was signing up mercenaries as Labour members with the soul purpose of just voting for his nephew. Political prostitution at its best.

[RainyDay]

For weeks before he was signing up mercenaries as Labour members with the soul purpose of just voting for his nephew. ]

People who join the party 'weeks before' a selection convention don't get to vote.

[redhead101]

Like when Arthur Spring went up against Alan Kelly for the Euro nomination, uncle Dick filled buses and cars with anybody but real Labour members. For weeks before he was signing up mercenaries as Labour members with the soul purpose of just voting for his nephew. Political prostitution at its best.

You can only vote in candidate selection contests if you have been an member for six months. Alan, Arthur and Dick may well have brought busloads to the selection convention, but even if they were not eligible to vote, I'm sure they had a lovely day out.

[Rosmuc]

You can only vote in candidate selection contests if you have been an member for six months. Alan, Arthur and Dick may well have brought busloads to the selection convention, but even if they were not eligible to vote, I'm sure they had a lovely day out.

Im sure Dick would'nt know how to back date a membership , it did not matter anyway as he was well beaten as Gilmore backed Kelly.

[RainyDay]

Im sure Dick would'nt know how to back date a membership

CAn't be done. Branch officers would have the lists of registered members from the start of the year, so they can't be back dated.

[NiceView]

Is he the world's most overqualified juice bar owner? Don't want to knock those in the juice bar sector, but his cv looks like they tried really hard to make something more of him! Would he be the only juice bar proprieter sent to an international business school?

well I know graduates of busienss school (ISNEAD) that started juice bars/...