Labour forced to eat its words on first day out

A potential leadership rival slapped down publicly as an “obedient employee”, claims the recovery is the party’s not the people’s, a baby narrowly avoiding a politicians’ puckered lips, and a vase broken in the very first shop entered marked Labour’s first day on the campaign trail.

The party’s first outing of election 2016 was an example of how to shoot yourself in the foot and deftly side-step the same shot in equal measure, offering a 24-hour showreel of the difficulties and opportunities politicians face over the coming three weeks.

Speaking in Dublin at the launch of the party’s campaign, Tánaiste Joan Burton attempted to frame the election on the triple points of health, housing, and the opposition’s “negative, sterile” view of Ireland’s future.