Labour rebel highlights deepening party rift

Rebel Labour TD Colm Keaveney last night highlighted the deepening rift between him and his party by claiming Pat Rabbitte “played the man and not the ball”.

He also criticised Labour leader Eamon Gilmore.

Galway East Mr Keaveney reacted to the criticism of him by Mr Rabbitte — in which the communications minister said the party could not have people “pirouetting on the plinth of Leinster House” and “parading their struggle with their conscience” — by claiming his son Luke had got upset when he heard the comments on Morning Ireland.