Labour won’t rule out merger

LABOUR leader Pat Rabbitte has not ruled out a possible merger with Fine Gael.

Mr Rabbitte yesterday confirmed that former Fine Gael deputy leader Jim Mitchell had written to him shortly before his death in December. It is believed Mr Mitchell raised the possibility of the merger to develop a formidable Opposition in the letter.

Speaking in Cork yesterday, Mr Rabbitte refused to comment on the contents of the letter, but he refused to rule out the possibility of a merger in the future.