McKenna To Quit Greens

[Mr A]

Former MEP Patricia McKenna has confirmed she is to quit the Green Party and run in the forthcoming European elections as an Independent candidate.

Ms McKenna said she took the decision to leave the party because of its performance in government.

In an interview with Hot Press magazine, to be published tomorrow, she brands her Green Party colleagues in the Dáil as “nothing but hypocrites”.

“I feel embarrassed about being a member of the Green Party because of what we said in the past and the promises we made, which we failed to deliver on,” she said. “I just knew that I couldn’t run under a Green Party ticket and pretend that everything was alright because I’d be lying.”

Full story

Always considered her to be a shrill, whinging nutcase.

[pete]

I don't like her but can't explain why.

I wouldn't say she was incorrect about Green colleagues but surely she accept the democracy of the party?

[Ringo]

Full story

Always considered her to be a shrill, whinging nutcase.

Just jumping ship before the election. Rats deserting the sinking ship. If she felt that strongly she should have left earlier.

[mypost]

Always considered her to be a shrill, whinging nutcase.

Is she wrong?

[Sunny Jim]

She's never happy. She always reminds me of Millie Tant from Viz for some reason.

[John83]

Just jumping ship before the election. Rats deserting the sinking ship. If she felt that strongly she should have left earlier.

She has been openly critical for a while now, I think. That said, she seems like the embodyment of one of the biggest criticisms of the Green Party - she has a platform to whinge about when in the opposition, but she's not able to contribute much to a government.

[Sheridan]

If she'd wanted to belong to a party pursuing Fianna Fáil policies, she would have joined Fianna Fáil (or Fine Gael.)

[mypost]

She voted against them going into coalition, and was crying after the result was announced. Her days were numbered after that.

[OneRedArmy]

Just jumping ship before the election. Rats deserting the sinking ship. If she felt that strongly she should have left earlier.

Jumping a ship that's actually polling pretty much exactly where they were, if not a bit better, than at the last election?

[Ringo]

Jumping a ship that's actually polling pretty much exactly where they were, if not a bit better, than at the last election?

only one poll counts

Green Party European election candidate, Senator Déirdre de Búrca, said she was not surprised that Ms McKenna had decided to quit the party. “The pity about Patricia McKenna’s move is that she did not do it at least a year ago and spare herself and her party colleagues a lot of time-wasting and strife. It has been increasingly clear that she does not share the same views on many issues with Green Party members,” she said. Ms de Búrca said Ms McKenna had for a long time offered little beyond constant criticisms which were designed to undermine her colleagues.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2009/0507/1224246059470.html

[Macy]

Jumping a ship that's actually polling pretty much exactly where they were, if not a bit better, than at the last election?

That's the national figures though, it appears that the local figures where they actually have TD's are down and if Labour/ FG do as well as the polls suggest they'll be screwed on transfers. The local elections will tell a lot on how the Green vote is actually holding up. Boyle was on Morning Ireland trying to do the old FF trick of being in opposition whilst in Government when it came to transfers...

[Lionel Ritchie]

I don't like her but can't explain why.

I wouldn't say she was incorrect about Green colleagues but surely she accept the democracy of the party?

I've always liked her but can't explain why.

I disagree with her about Lisbon as I do sometimes about other things but I've always liked her.

I think she's either politically very naive about the Greens entering government (you can have the best policies and principles out there -but what's the point if you don't avail of opportunities to try and implement them to the greatest extent possible?) OR she genuinely felt it was bad tactics and that the Greens needed to wait til they were numerically stronger and, crucially, til FF or whoever else were weaker and really, really needed the greens on board.

I will say this pertaining to her and Lisbon. There are many on the yes side of the Lisbon debate whose background and ideology I dislike but She is absolutely the one and only person on the No side I'd trust as far as I could throw.

[pete]

I alwasy got the impression she was one of those politicians who was always complaining about the EU yet was dependent on it for her job. A bit like SF in that respect.

[Macy]

I alwasy got the impression she was one of those politicians who was always complaining about the EU yet was dependent on it for her job. A bit like SF in that respect.

Well you can be in favour in principle without liking the way somethings implemented. At least she's been consistent - the party she's just left have been against every single EU treaty until Lisbon. Her position hasn't shifted, it's the party that have moved.

[Bald Student]

Well you can be in favour in principle without liking the way somethings implemented. At least she's been consistent - the party she's just left have been against every single EU treaty until Lisbon. Her position hasn't shifted, it's the party that have moved.

A lot of the green policies were completely loopy and needed to change. I think it's inevitable that they'd leave some people behind.