After a poor turnout for Labour in the local and European elections, party leader Eamon Gilmore is rumoured to be announcing his resignation this afternoon.

A spokeswoman for the Tanaiste has confirmed that there will be an announcement made by Gilmore at 4pm in Iveagh House, where he is expected to announce his resignation.

He has been under increasing pressure in the run up to the elections, with polls predicting that the public would vent their frustrations with the party. The results have been damning for Labour, and will put further pressure on the coalition as a result, but the party leader looks set to take the brunt of the fallout. 

Leading figures in the Labour party such as Brendan Howlin, Joan Burton, Emmet Stagg and Jan O’Sullivan have all have been arriving to discussions all afternoon with the Tanaiste after the leader faced a motion of no confidence. However, The Irish Times are reporting that he made the decision to resign before that motion was tabled.

Via The Irish Times