Kelly denies being source of Labour election leak

Environment Minister Alan Kelly has vehemently denied to his party that he was behind damaging leaks about Labour possibly losing seats in the general election.

He used the party’s weekly parliamentary party meeting to put to bed suggestions that he was the source of the leak . The party last week heard TDs and senators say that the supposed internal analysis leaked to the media — which claimed Labour could lose 20 seats — had damaged the party.

Mr Kelly told his colleagues he was “upset” at the suggestion it was him. “He spoke for about two minutes, there was a small ripple of applause and then people shook his hand,” said a party source.