Déjà vu strikes Labour party as Joan Burton quits while she’s behind

Somewhere in south Dublin yesterday afternoon, a grey-haired retired politician was having a strange feeling of déjà vu.

After a disastrous election campaign, a high-profile Labour leader was about to step down amid backroom talk that it was either go or be pushed out by colleagues.

Shuffling into a crowded media press conference, the leader smiled and said the party will come first.