Comments (0)PrintEmail

Local radio journalist to run as left-wing candidate

by Danielle Harney  Updated: Friday, 14th January, 2011 9:30am

Liam Dumpleton

Local radio journalist Liam Dumpleton has announced today (Friday) that he will contest the general election as a Left Alternative Alliance candidate.

The Birr man made his decision at a meeting on Tuesday night in Portlaoise, when a new left-wing group was established for Laois/Offaly.

Socialist Party leader Joe Higgins addressed the meeting, which was attended by a number of angry Labour party members who wanted to respond to their party’s decision to run a sole candidate in the constituency. Mr Dumpleton’s name was proposed and he accepted the nomination.

“I can confirm that I am running, definitely,” he said when contacted by the Offaly Independent yesterday.

Mr Dumpleton was one of four Labour party members whose nominations at the selection convention were not accepted by party HQ. Instead, the party selected Laois journalist John Whelan to run. A second, Laois councillor Jim O’Brien has resigned from the party.

“We were very disappointed in the way the whole thing worked out, members started to look at alternatives. I would say a lot of people are very favourable towards this and I’m in the process of meeting a lot of people,” said Mr Dumpleton.

“Politics should be about the people. Running as a party candidate there is a party line that has to be towed, a leader to be supported, if you run as a party candidate your own conscience can be compromised. This way, I can decide my own course of mind, there’s a sense of freedom in being an independently-minded person, there’s more freedom of will.”

Mr Dumpleton is deputy head of news in Midlands 103 based in Tullamore, and has worked there for nine years. He is taking a leave of absence from today and his campaign will then begin in earnest.

“It was the ultimate decision (leaving his job), but there comes a time when you need to stand up and be counted,” he said. “People need to stand up and be counted, this will be a history lesson for our kids. Too many politicians are looking after themselves, I want to be a true representative. It was a big decision and it’s still a big move, but at least I have a chance and I can have my say.”

Acknowledging that it was a big task, he said it was time for Fianna Fáil to go into opposition for their own sake and regroup. It is envisaged the group formed at the Portlaoise meeting will affiliate to the United Left Alliance which is a loosely-formed group of various independent candidates around the country.

Mr Dumpleton is now the third non-party Offaly-based candidate who will run in the election. Independent Cllrs John Leahy and Eddie Fitzpatrick have also declared their intention to run. In the constituency, there is one Sinn Féin candidate, four Fine Gael candidates and one Labour. Fianna Fáil has yet to hold its selection convention.