THE IDENTITY OF the next leader of the Labour party will be known later today with Joan Burton vying with Alex White to replace the outgoing Eamon Gilmore.

There is widespread expectation that Burton will win the battle to be leader of the party and become the next Tánaiste.

But the actual counting of around 3,000 ballots from Labour members does not begin at the Royal College of Physicians in Dublin until 12.30pm today with the result expected around 3.30pm.

It’s been a lengthy campaign with the contenders for leader and deputy leader participating in hustings in front of Labour members all across the country in recent weeks.

Despite their busy schedules both White and Burton took time to come into TheJournal.ie offices – ironically Labour’s former home during the 2011 general election – to tell us where the party has gone wrong, what their priorities are and answer some of your questions.

Here’s what Alex White told us about smoking cannabis, who he thinks will win the World Cup and whether Burton had hurt his feelings:

And here’s what Joan Burton had to say on everything from how austerity has affected her to what she makes of Mario Rosenstock’s impressions of her:

Read: 13 things we learned from the first Labour leadership husting

Burton vs. White: 9 things we learned from the fifth and final Labour hustings