Burton admits Labour 'shellacking'; refuses to comment on possible Gilmore heave
By Shaun Connolly, Irish Examiner Political Correspondent
Labour's deputy leader Joan Burton says the party has taken a "shellacking" in the elections as she appeared to leave open the door to a leadership heave against Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore.
When asked if she would launch a heave against Mr Gilmore, Ms Burton said: "I'm not going to call anything like that until we get the final results in. It's not about personalities; it's about the content the policies."
Asked to clarify her position, the Social Protection Minister said: "Eamon Gilmore is the elected leader of the Labour Party and of course I have confidence in Eamon Gilmore, but it is much wider than that.
"I think the issues are far wider than simply the issue of one person or personalities, I think the issues go much wider. We have to think about it and look at the policy area."
Quoting US president Barack Obama when the Democrats took heavy mid-term loses, Ms Burton said: "The electorate have given the Labour Party a shellacking. we have to reflect and examine that."
Ms Burton said a thorough overhaul of Labour policy was now needed: "Everyone has to actually sit down and listen to what people have said. The people have spoken and we have to look at how we address those issues that people have raised."
Ms Burton cited the withdrawal of medical cards as a major complaint from voters on the doorstep.
As head of the Labour election campaign, Ms Burton said the party expected to hold a "significant" number of seats today.
Ms Burton said voters also praised the party's handling of the economy, stating: "There was a very strong undercurrent that they understood the economy had to be stabilised."
