LAST UPDATE | 26 Feb 2023

SOCIAL DEMOCRAT HOLLY Cairns will become the leader of her party after an uncontested election. 

In a tweet this afternoon the west Cork TD said: “I’m excited to announce that I am putting myself forward to be the next leader of the Social Democrats.”

Co-leaders Róisín Shortall and Catherine Murphy announced earlier this week that they were stepping down.

All other TDs have ruled themselves out of the leadership campaign, with Cian O’Callaghan announcing his withdrawal this afternoon. This clears the way for Cairns to be elected unopposed. 

In a statement Cairns said she was grateful for the support of her party.

“I’m so grateful for the support of my colleagues in the parliamentary party and members of the Social Democrats all over the country. I’m blown away by the kind messages coming in from everywhere.

“This was a big decision and I’m under no illusions about the challenges that lie ahead.

“But I am hugely ambitious for future of the Social Democrats and determined to build on the excellent foundations that have been laid by Catherine Murphy and Róisín Shortall.

“I look forward to becoming party leader on Wednesday and setting out my vision for the party,” she said.

Rules underpinning the leadership election were agreed at a meeting of the party’s National Executive this evening.

I’m excited to announce that I am putting myself forward to be the next leader of the Social Democrats.

— Holly Cairns TD (@HollyCairnsTD) February 26, 2023

If there is a contested election, polls will close at the end of March and voting will be by digital ballot.

Members who have been in the party for at least six months will be eligible to vote. Voting will be by a system of one member, one vote.

If there is only one candidate, that person will be deemed elected when nominations close on 1 March.

While Gannon dropped out earlier this afternoon Jennifer Whitmore has released a tweet video in which she endorsed Cairns.

“I’m delighted to hear that Holly is putting herself forward for the leadership of the Social Democrats.

“I’m here to say that I’m putting my full support behind her because it will make an incredible leader for the party. And I’m looking forward to the next chapter,” Whitmore said. 

https://t.co/3sXhdwuEbK pic.twitter.com/hJ1iEqOIa1

— Jennifer Whitmore TD (@WhitmoreJen) February 26, 2023

Cairns won a Dáil seat for Cork South West in the 2020 general election. It was the first time in more than 60 years that the constituency did not return a Fine Gael TD.

She was previously a councillor for the Social Democrats who won her seat for the party in 2019 by just one vote. She is a farmer and a small business owner.

Cairns has led on a number of key issues for the party and been vocal on the issue of the mother and baby home scandal.

Dublin Bay North TD Cian O’Callaghan also ruled himself out of the race in a tweet.

Delighted that Holly is going forward to be the next leader of the Social Democrats.

Holly will be a fantastic leader and has my full 100% support. https://t.co/7ca1zW9Zah

— Cian O'Callaghan T.D. 🏳️‍⚧️ (@OCallaghanCian) February 26, 2023

Speaking on Newstalk’s On the Record with Gavin O’Reilly earlier O’Callaghan said he was bowing out of the contest to focus on his interest in housing. 

“Someone in a leadership role needs to cover a wide range of issues and I think Holly is very well suited to that. In the Dáil we’ve seen the work she’s done in relation to mother and baby homes, the work she’s done with survivors of those.

”She’s been a very strong voice, she’s shown real grit and determination, so while I feel I’ve plenty of other and plenty to do – and I feel the other SocDem TDs do as well – that’s just not a role I’d see myself doing,” he said. 

O’Callaghan said that he believed that Cairns would likely be a leader who could reach out to people across political interests. 

“In this situation Holly is a very, very clear, strong frontrunner. I think if there was a contest, she would win and win very strongly.

“It’s not that I don’t think the rest of us have different merits and different qualities – it’s just that she has a factor in terms of how she connects with people that would be over and above what others have,” he said. 

Gary Gannon, TD, speaking on RTE Radio One earlier said that he was fully supportive of Cairns as leader. 

“We’re all really delighted. We’re thrilled with the fact that Holly is placing herself forward. She has massive trust within the party. It is a really exciting time for the Social Democrats.

“We are a relatively new party, we have made huge inroads. Holly has been the absolute fore of that in terms of communicating their message and I have all the admiration of the world for what Holly has done to this point in a relatively short period of time. Just so excited about working alongside her over the next couple of years in terms of building the party,” he said. 

Gannon said that he believes Cairns is a good fit and with her life experience of “experiencing the consequences of political decisions”.

“I think she brings a very new dynamic from that very different than what any other party has to offer in this country,” he added. 

With reporting by Christina Finn.