No leadership challenge, says Gilmore

Labour leader Eamon Gilmore has insisted he will not face a leadership challenge after the national polls tomorrow.

Mr Gilmore played down talk that his position would be in peril if Labour experiences the local and Euro rout predicted by its slump showing in opinion polls

“It will be quite sometime before there is a contest,” he said. The Tánaiste also moved to brush aside the apparent public snub delivered by Taoiseach Enda Kenny when he dashed Labour hopes of a post-election re-negotiation of the Programme for Government.

“The Government needs to renew itself, we have to renew our work, on the employment front, we have to renew our efforts to increase employment.

“There is not a need to renegotiate, what there is a need to accelerate the implementation.

“The programme for government is very clear that our primary purpose is to create jobs.”

The Labour leader tried to sound upbeat about his party’s chances, despite polls predicting that it will retain no Euro seat, and is set to lose half its councillors.

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