Quitting or switching parties not a very good strategy?

[Brendan Burgess]

Those TDs and ex TDs who left their parties haven't done that well

A few exceptions
Roisin Shortall left Labour and topped the poll as a Social Democrat
Denis Naughton left FG and topped the poll as an independent

The rest
Colm Keaveny jumped ship from Labour to FF and was the only FF TD to lose his seat.
Ex TD Chris Andrews - switched to Sinn Féin and didn't get elected. He probably would have got elected if he had stood for FF. But they were about to throw him out anyway.

The three who left Fine Gael and set up Renua
Lucinda Creighton
Terence Flanagan
Billy Timmins


Any other examples?

 

[Dermot]

Michael Lowry
Jackie Healy Rae and set a dynasty in Kerry
Shane Ross?

 

[Dermot]

Mattie McGrath ex FF

 

[Brendan Burgess]

I was thinking of this election, but going back further seems to show it has been a good strategy.

The ex PD from Waterford who joined FF is another example of someone who got elected after leaving.

It probably depends on the circumstances. If you have a huge personal vote, as distinct from a party vote, it's probably safe enough to do it.

Brendan

 

[rob oyle]

Read elsewhere:
Of the five TDs who left Fine Gael over the 2013 Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill, none will be in the next Dáil. Peter Mathews, Billy Timmins, Terence Flanagan and Lucinda Creighton have all lost their seats, and Brian Walsh retired. Conversely, the two deputies who left Fine Gael over local issues – Denis Naughten and Noel Grealish – were both easily elected as Independents