Leadership

Lee’s departure ‘sad day for the party’, says Bruton

09.02.2010
Fine Gael deputy leader and finance spokesman Richard Bruton TD has said George Lee’s decision to leave the party and politics is “very regrettable” and “very disappointing”, but rejected suggestions that Lee was given the cold shoulder by party members.

Speaking to RTE Radio today following yesterday’s announcement by FG Dublin South TD George Lee that he was quitting the party and giving up his seat in Dail Eireann, Burton said while it was a “sad day for the party” that Lee had left, FG would have to regroup and move on.

One-on-one meetings
Bruton acknowledged he did not have many one-on-one meetings with Lee during Lee's eight-month tenure as a TD, adding that such meetings “happen when they happen”.

But he also said that a lot of people would ring him regularly with ideas, adding “George never called me.”

However, Bruton said he did sit down with Lee at budget time to discuss Fine Gael’s reaction to the budget.

He also rejected suggestions that Lee had been sidelined by the party, saying that this was “not at all true”. He said Lee had been made the Chairman of FG’s Economic Committee, adding that such a committee was a first for Fine Gael in that it brought the party’s economic spokespeople together.

Leadership ambitions
Asked about whether he wished to lead Fine Gael, Bruton acknowledged that “of course, I have always had leadership ambitions. Everyone has ambitions to lead their party”, but added that “I’m not saying it is time to change leadership”.

He also said he had always supported Enda Kenny, and “no one can question my loyalty to any of our leaders”.