Rabbitte selects the old guard for top jobs

LABOUR leader Pat Rabbitte gave top jobs to the party’s old guard on his front bench yesterday in a bid to heal internal dissent over the prominence of former Democratic Left colleagues within the party.

Mr Rabbitte gave two key posts to vanquished leadership rivals, with Eamon Gilmore taking over as

environment spokesman, and Roisin Shorthall, who refused a front-bench job last summer, becoming transport spokeswoman.