Gilmore seeks to dodge conference ‘bloodbath’

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore is set to cancel this year’s Labour Party conference in order to avoid a “bloodbath” showdown in the run-up to the budget.

The leadership is looking to move the gathering from this September to the last date it can be held under party rules — Apr 2014.

The conference was originally due to be held this April, but was delayed because of the Irish presidency of the EU.