Defiant Kenny calls for party unity

A defiant Enda Kenny tonight vowed to lead Fine Gael into the next General Election after seeing off a leadership heave by his sacked deputy leader Richard Bruton.

After securing the reins of the party in a secret ballot, the Opposition leader postponed plans to announce his new front bench on Monday.

Instead, Mr Kenny signalled he would take more time to consider who would best help him rebuild the credibility of Fine Gael after its split over his stewardship.

But he insisted the party was now united after a motion of confidence in his leadership, put down by himself, was passed by an undisclosed majority of Fine Gael’s 70 TDs, senators and MEPs.

“For me, this is the end of any of the tensions that may have been building up,” he said after the ballot at Leinster House.

“We move on from here as a completely united party, even though we had a vote on this issue.”

Former Deputy Leader and Finance Spokesman Mr Bruton, who was relegated to the back benches last Monday after refusing to express his confidence in Mr Kenny, insisted there would be no more challenges.

“There’ll be no more heaves, the parliamentary party has made its decision,” he said.

“We’re a very democratic party.”

Announcing the result after a five-hour meeting, Fine Gael Chairman Padraic McCormack refused to reveal the margin of the vote.

Only himself and Senator Paschal Donohoe knew the result of the secret ballot and both had been sworn to secrecy, he said.

Mr Kenny claimed his relationship as a friend with Richard Bruton was not broken but he refused to be drawn on whether he would re-appoint him to his front bench.

“I want to take some time to consider all of the talents that we have, I want to talk to lots of people and I want to put out a team that will reflect the mood of the meeting and the recommendations that were made to me,” he said.

Insisting he had not promised positions to colleagues in return for their support, Mr Kenny vowed to pick a new team to reflect the “new reality” after the leadership challenge.

But he told colleagues during his pre-ballot address that all party members would be offered the opportunity to have their talent and experience recognised.

“The Fine Gael party have no more wobbles – we are all united,” he said.

Some 45 members of the parliamentary party spoke both for and against Mr Kenny during the meeting.

But while Mr McCormack said the meeting was cordial and good natured, the party’s communications, energy and natural resources spokesman Simon Coveney described it as tense.

The Cork South Central TD, who was among more than half the Fine Gael front bench who came out against Mr Kenny’s leadership, said the Pro-Bruton group would now have to work to heal wounds within the ranks.

“I don’t expect to be in favour with [Enda Kenny] any time soon but I’ll do whatever he asks me to do,” he said.