Get the popcorn…

… the agonies of the Labour leadership contest continue:

There is increasing pressure on acting Minister for Public Expenditure Brendan Howlin to declare that he will stand for the leadership of the Labour Party after members learned on Tuesday that Joan Burton wants to remain as leader.
Deputy leader Alan Kelly is also thought certain to seek to stand in the leadership contest that the party’s rules require after leaving government.

And while:

…both Ms Burton and Mr Kelly may not be able to secure a seconder from the party’s seven TDs, inquiries by The Irish Times suggest.Unless they can secure a seconder, neither would be eligible to stand.

Except, except…

However, speculation within the party is that both Ms Burton and Mr Kelly could agree to second each other’s nomination – a prospect greeted with alarm and incredulity by many sources on Tuesday.

Meanwhile… one might think elections for such positions are a good thing, but some aren’t so sure…

TDs Willie Penrose and Brendan Ryan both said that their preference was to have an agreed candidate.
“It would be better if we could come to a consensus on a new leader without a contest,” Mr Ryan said.