The UK Labour Party has chosen Deirdre Costigan, a Dublin native from Greenhills near Walkinstown, to represent them in a secure constituency in West London in an upcoming election. If successful, Ms. Costigan will be among a select few Dubliners who have served in the House of Commons in the past hundred years.
Ms. Costigan is a trade union official for Unison and a champion of gay rights, who moved to London in the 1990s. She will be contesting for Labour in the Ealing Southhall constituency, a seat the party has steadfastly maintained since 1983 owing to significant voting majorities.
She presently holds the position of deputy leader at the Ealing Council, where she carries out climate change policy initiatives. Additionally, she is the vice chair of the Labour Irish Society. Upon receiving the news of her selection for the upcoming July 4th UK election, Ms. Costigan light-heartedly invited her family to join her in canvassing.
Raised in a humble working-class family in Greenhills, her parents, Dan and Teresa Costigan, both still reside there. Her father is originally from Tipperary while her mother hails from Greystones in Wicklow. “Deirdre has always aimed for improving the circumstances of working-class households like our own. We are immensely proud of her and wish her the best possible outcome,” claimed Teresa Costigan.
Ms. Costigan’s opportunity to represent Labour emerged when the current Ealing Southhall incumbent, Virendra Sharma, who has held the seat since 2007, revealed that he will not be standing for re-election. Following her interview with Labour officials and subsequent selection, she was notified of her success last Thursday evening.
Ealing Southall includes Hanwell, an area previously inhabited by a substantial Irish community and their descendants. However, the constituency’s largest ethnic group is currently British Asians, with a high concentration of Indian Sikhs, Hindus, and Muslims.
“As an immigrant myself, I empathize with the desire for people to secure a better future for their children,” stated Ms. Costigan. She went on to underscore her commitment to disability rights and her understanding of the healthcare sector stemming from her role at Unison, representing a significant number of nurses.
Anu Prashar, the significant other of Ms Costigan, is likewise an active member in the trade unionised domain. Ms Prashar has a considerable reputation within Labour spheres in London, and together with Ms Costigan they are recognised advocates for the LGBTQ+ society.
Ms Costigan marked the start of her political career shortly after relocating from Dublin to London in the 1990s. Her involvement began with the local Labour sect in south London’s Merton district. Among those who influenced and guided her was Siobhain McDonagh, the daughter of Irish emigrants and MP since 1997, and sibling to the late Margaret McDonagh. Margaret McDonagh was an esteemed political coordinator and a mastermind behind Tony Blair’s New Labour ascension.
Ms Costigan currently stands to protect the 16,000-vote lead for Labour that was established by Mr Sharma in the 2019 UK general election. Her current position forecasts a high probability for her victory.
Over the past century, the House of Commons saw the election of other Dublin natives like war reporter Jonathan Aitken, who served as a Tory MP since 1997, and Edward Carson, an Ulster Unionist who represented a Belfast position in the House of Commons until 1921.
Also in the political landscape is Claire Tighe, a Mayo native serving on Ealing council with Ms Costigan and acting as vice chair of the Labour Irish society. Tighe is in the running for the Surrey seat of Spelthorne, previously occupied by ex-chancellor of the exchequer, Kwasi Kwarteng. Tighe, however, faces a formidable task of overturning a prevailing 19,000 Tory lead. Concurrently, Damien Egan from Cork, who succeeded in an earlier byelection this year, is Labour’s nominated candidate for Bristol North East.