Joan Burton has no intention of ‘standing back’ in election battle after debate criticism

The embattled Labour leader has come out fighting after criticism of her performance in this week’s TV election debate. Joan Burton says she has no intention of “standing back” and “doing a little bit of Downton Abbey and the tea cups”.

The Tánaiste also turned the tables on the call by the Social Democrats for no tax cuts and said the new party was “completely mistaken” not to give some relief back to low-paid workers.

As the election campaign enters its last full week, Ms Burton dismissed suggestions her performance on the seven-way debate had “endangered” any Labour candidates trying to get elected.