Alan Kelly agitates for open contest for leadership of Labour Party

Labour’s Alan Kelly is piling pressure on his party to let him run for the leadership, with ordinary members now formally lobbying for an open contest for the position.

Party TDs were in talks last night in a bid to resolve the situation amid fears that the party may potentially alienate ordinary members if an agreeable outcome is not reached.

A letter was sent to party chairman Willie Penrose from 19 members which raised concerns about a “single candidate” being proposed by TDs. This would be the “wrong course of action”, the signed letter said.