'Wholesale change' needed in Labour says Penrose

There needs to be “wholesale change with new blood” in the Labour Party according to Deputy Willie Penrose.

The veteran TD was speaking after the party suffered its worst peformance at the polls in decades. In Westmeath, the party lost four of its six council seats with only Cllrs Johnny Penrose and Mick Dollard being re-elected. It was a similar story all over the country as the party's support fell by two thirds.

Deputy Penrose told the Irish times that the “public definitely seemed to have lost confidence in the current leadership” but stressed that the leadership extended beyond Eamon Gilmore.

“I would anticipate there would be a major reshuffle and not just a shifting of chairs. There needs to be wholesale change with new blood.”

The Ballynacargy native added that both the parliamentary party and rank and file would be looking for answers and that “very serious reflection” was needed.