Desmond backs Howlin for Labour leadership

Former deputy Labour leader Barry Desmond has backed Brendan Howlin to take over the leadership and warned that Alan Kelly would face “problems” if he secured the position.

The comments from the former Dún Laoghaire TD come as Labour TDs continue to wrangle over how the leadership should be decided.

Mr Desmond said support was firmly behind Mr Howlin and the structures to decide the new leader were “completely fair”.