Enda Kenny left isolated after call on Sinn Féin deal

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has been left isolated from the vast majority of his party, after several leadership contenders and backbench TDs refused to support his Sinn Féin coalition call.

Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar, Housing Minister Simon Coveney, and Health Minister Simon Harris all rejected the suggestion of sharing power with Sinn Féin just 24 hours after Mr Kenny opened the door to the coalition.

However, Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald appeared to back Mr Kenny’s position last night by also failing to rule out a deal, saying “people ultimately decide who forms a government” and that “politicians have to work with the results”.