Labour contenders set out their stalls

The two contenders for the Labour leadership have begun writing to party members with personal messages in a bid to seal their support ahead of a vote for the new leader next month.

Social Protection Minister Joan Burton yesterday sent an email message to the near 5,000-strong membership saying she wanted to lead a “fight” to shift the focus of the recovery.

Her opponent, junior health minister Alex White, posted messages to members yesterday and also said that he was “very confident” of winning the leadership.