Ministers rally to back Gilmore in ‘family row’

Labour ministers have rallied around leader Eamon Gilmore after a “family row” was prompted by calls for his resignation by the party’s Ireland South MEP, Phil Prendergast.

Education Minister Ruairi Quinn insisted Mr Gilmore would lead the party into the next general election, while Social Protection Minister Joan Burton said: “There is no leadership question. I want to be clear on that.”

Ms Prendergast was not rowing back on her comments last night, despite criticism from her colleagues, and said Mr Gilmore did not realise how difficult the campaign trail had been for candidates.