Labour grassroots must approve any deal with FG

WHILE Eamon Gilmore has moved to tighten the leader’s grip on Labour, he must still get any coalition deal approved by his party’s grassroots.

Though accused by some critics on the left of centralising power since succeeding Pat Rabbitte in 2007, there is still a delegate lock on a programme for government.

Mr Gilmore does not have to convene a special meeting of his expanded parliamentary party — which has grown from 21 to 36 — to endorse any agreement with Fine Gael, but he must hold a delegate conference.