McGuinness resigns from Fianna Fáil

DUBLIN West Councillor and former by-election candidate David McGuinness has formally resigned from the Fianna Fáil party.

Cllr McGuinness lost out to medical student Cllr Jack Chambers at the party’s recent selection convention for a candidate in the upcoming general election.

The selection of Cllr Chambers came as a surprise to many pundits who expected Cllr McGuinness – who made it to the last count of the Dublin West by-elections in 2011 and 2014 despite his party’s poor showing in national polls – to be a strong election contender.

Following February’s selection convention at the Carlton Hotel in Tyrrelstown Cllr McGuinness told Northside People he felt he’d been

“shafted

? by a core bunch of party members.

He admitted his time with Fianna Fail was most likely coming to an end, but held back from resigning while he considered his future.

While last week’s decision hasn’t come as surprise, it’s another unwelcome blow to a Fianna Fail party struggling to rally its troops and set itself up as a viable option for government after the general election.

“I never got involved in politics to ensure the future survival of the party,

? Cllr McGuinness said, adding that his decision wasn’t solely about the leadership of the party.

“The issue at stake is leadership in general.

“There is a crisis of confidence in this country with regard to politics and Fianna Fáil has done nothing to rebuild the trust of the people across the communities of this country.

?

Cllr McGuinness will now become an Independent councillor on Fingal County Council but has yet to make a decision as to whether he’ll be running as an election candidate in Dublin West.

“My efforts within Fianna Fáil have failed and I will now continue to fight for the people I represent as an Independent Dublin West public representative,

? he said.

Cllr McGuinness has previously admitted he could struggle as an independent due to a lack of resources but is heartened by support shown to him following the selection convention.

“A lot of people have been more honest to me since then,

? he told Northside People.

“I enjoy a lot of personal support and I’ll have to see if there’s enough of that to run as an independent.

“I always thought FF were my party, a party to the centre left, and that’s the space where I want to be.

?

Cllr McGuinness also said he hasn’t ruled out considering offers to run as a candidate for other parties or political groupings if he’s contacted, but added his main priority was to represent the population of Dublin West.