THE LABOUR PARTY has decided to back Independent TD Catherine Connolly in her bid to become the next President of Ireland.

Labour is joining a left-wing alliance alongside the Social Democrats, People Before Profit and a number of Independents to throw their support behind Connolly for the Áras. 

The party’s parliamentary party and executive board met this evening and agreed to support Connolly in her campaign, which she launched earlier this month.

Attendees at the meeting were told that a consultation process with members showed a clear majority were in favour of getting behind Connolly as the party’s nomination.

Labour TD Ciarán Ahern TD, who has been appointed the Labour Party’s co-ordinator with Catherine Connolly’s campaign, said that the decision to support Connolly as a joint Left candidate was made “in the spirit of supporting the development and growth of the Left across the country and demonstrating that an alternative politics is possible here, a cause which our party leader Ivana Bacik has led and promoted over recent years”.

“While there are issues where we have differed with Deputy Connolly, we are determined that the social democratic values of equality, justice and tolerance should shape the Presidency over the next seven years and follow the legacy of Michael D Higgins,” Ahern said.

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“We believe that Catherine Connolly shares those values, and has put them into practice during her political career,” he said.

“Catherine will make an excellent President, campaigning and advocating for the common good.”