Jan O’Sullivan denies telling Alan Kelly she would back leadership bid

Former education minister Jan O’Sullivan has said she never told Alan Kelly she would back his bid for the Labour leadership.

Mr Kelly, the former environment minister, claimed she only pulled back when Brendan Howlin threatened to withdraw from the race.

Ms O’Sullivan denied any suggestion she was set to support her colleague until the ultimatum was made, as the fallout from the replacement of Joan Burton continued to engulf the party yesterday.