Counting Underway In Labour Leader Elections

Counting underway in labour leader elections

Counting of votes in the Labour party leadership election is underway in Dublin. A formal announcement will be made later this afternoon, but tallies are expected to show in the next hour that Joan Burton has beaten off the challenge of Alex White. Turnout's still being calculated but it's expected to be close to 85 per cent with votes hand delivered yesterday and again today. The sorting is now underway and tallies are expected in the next hour - which virtually everyone expects will confirm Joan Burton as the new Labour leader and tánaiste elect. The deputy leadership race is expected to be a little tighter with many predicting that could be a two-horse race from the four candidates - with Alan Kelly and Michael McCarthy battling it out. Once the formal declarations are made later this afternoon the work on re-shaping the coalition will get underway. Enda Kenny and Joan Burton are expected to speak by phone this evening ahead of formal negotiations late on Sunday or on Monday.