Labour candidate left ruing what might have been

Van der Spek looks to poll lower than in 2019.

It wasn't for the want of trying that Labour's Liam van der Spek saw his overall first preference diminish from 2019 according to tally figures. He campaigned well, called to doors and engaged with the electorate. Instead a combination of factors conspired against him- apathy towards the party brand in this part of the country, and the emergence of more and new and perhaps better placed candidates in the field.

Van der Spek picked up 6.28% of the vote five years ago, of 761 votes total before going out in Count 5.That included 591 first preferences, and when divided out, it helped get two Cavan Town candidates in Fine Gael's Madeleine Argue and Patricia Walsh get elected.

The 2024 tally figures indicate that van der Spek, who stood in the last General Election also, stands to see his vote cut almost in half.

“You put your best foot forward, that's all you can do,” says van der Spek, who is here at the Cavan count centre with his partner and mum Joan.

He admits disappointment, and says he “never thought I'd walk into a seat, its always tough for Labour here, you have to try your best, but I am disappointed that it is a bit of a lower vote than I got last time. But that's democracy for you.”

Asked what was the potential cause of this dropback, van der Spek, who is highly respected within the party nationally, said: “The last time I finished slightly ahead of the other Sinn Féin candiadate whereas this time 'Bricker' Wall is ahead of me. That's probably the biggest factor. They're on the upswing compared to 2019, and its a hard win to go against.”

When the question is put whether he'll run again, van der Spek is reticent to commit one way or another. “Its hard to say. The last time I wasn't sure either and here I am now.”

He adds that the vote is “discouraging”.

“I thought I might do as well as I did last time, so to be down is a bit hard to look at. I have to reflect on it.”

Regardless of van der Spek's next step he truely believes that Labour as a party have “something to offer” in Irish politics.

“I'd probably have an easier time if I was in a party most established in this part of the country, or there was a family dynasty seat for me to walk into, but I wouldn't want to win at any cost. I'd rather win on the values I put forward, that the Labour party put forward, which I think are genuinely good for Ireland. So if I can't win on my principles I wouldn't want to win just for the sake of it.”