Joan Burton brands Social Democrats ‘the New Troika in Town’

The Tánaiste and Labour leader Joan Burton has dubbed the new political party the Social Democrats as “the New Troika in Town”.

Burton has also questioned the credibility of the economic policies of the new party - which includes her former Labour colleague, Roisin Shortall.

Describing the leadership as a mixture of the left and the old Progressive Democrats, the Tánaiste has said the only economic issue they seemed to agree on was abolishing water charges.

“Whether they can all come together and agree on a platform which will actually set out the best interests of Irish people, I think that’s more debatable,” said Burton.