Battle for senior Labour posts could turn ugly

The Battle for Labour’s top two posts was becoming bitter last night as Joan Burton faced a challenger in the tussle for the party crown.

With junior health minister Alex White poised to confirm his candidacy for the top job in a statement at 11am today, the scrap for the position of deputy leader last night threatened to turn ugly.

A swirl of activity saw three contenders for the role break into the open yesterday as junior science minister Sean Sherlock reversed his previous decision not to run and announced he was standing against fellow Cork TD Michael McCarthy and Tipperary North deputy and junior transport minister Alan Kelly.