Labour rivals to line out for final debates in leadership race

The Labour leadership candidates will go head-to-head in one final round of debates behind closed doors today in front of the party’s lawyers society ahead of this week’s vote for a new leader.

The final hustings comes as speculation mounts over what the new Labour leader will agree on with Taoiseach Enda Kenny in the Cabinet reshuffle and in changes to the Programme for Government.

Sources on both sides now say it could be the middle of July, just before the Dáil breaks for summer, before any decision is made on who will get the call up and who will be dropped from Cabinet.