Little of the old Labour exuberance in leader’s sombre speech

MORE TaxMan than BatMan, Eamon Gilmore nevertheless set himself the super hero-esque task of “rescuing the future”.

The future is presently being held hostage by arch economic villain Brian Cowen in the underground lair of his golden circle hideaway where he tortures it for the pleasure of plutocratic bankers cavorting with him as they light their cigars with the billions of euro cut from the welfare budget.

The somewhat ill-defined tax and spend rescue plan was the only touch of rhetorical flourish in a speech that was every bit as sombre as the economic outlook.