Labour notifies candidates a second election may be on the cards

Labour TDs and defeated candidates have officially been put on notice that a second general election may be on the cards, as the party prepares to rule itself out of joining government.

Tánaiste Joan Burton also informed party members in a letter last night that her preference is to remain in opposition and rebuild the party in an alliance with other small parties.

The clarification comes after days of speculation that Labour, after requests from Fine Gael, was looking at taking on a role in a minority government led by Enda Kenny. Amid a backlash to the suggestion, Ms Burton told members she wished to join forces with the Social Democrats and the Greens on the opposition benches.