Cllr Declan Bree a former Labour Party TD will join the United Left Alliance later today. Bree is running as an independent candidate in Sligo – North Leitrim and will be unveiled at a ULA press conference in Dublin.

The ULA comprises the Socialist Party, the People Before Profit Alliance and the Workers and Unemployed Action Group in Tippereary. Bree left the Labour Party in 2007 and served one term in the Dáil from 1992 until 1997. He was in the Sligo/Leitrim Independent Socialist Organisation prior to joining Labour. So you could say he is a candidate well travelled.

He had already announced his candidacy in the General Election. Cllr Veronica Cawley another former Labour Party member is also running, calling herself an independent Labour candidate – she lost a selection convention to Susan O’Keeffe who is the Labour Party candidate.

O’Keefe is a journalist who joined the party in 2009 running in the European Parliament Elections. The defection of Cawley and Bree’s established if diminishing core vote are going to affect O’Keeffe’s vote in an election which sees one incumbent TD retiring unless transfers are agreed which appears unlikely. There are 13 candidates running for 3 seats.