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Extracts of Kenny’s speech:

“As a native of Crossmaglen, South Armagh it will come as no shock to you that this is the first occasion I have spoken at a gathering of Ulster Unionists within the Strangford Constituency. I’m afraid I have been guilty in the past of not acquainting myself with the challenges and opportunities faced by Unionists in the East and North of our Province but have instead allowed myself to occasionally behave in a self-indulgent way towards what the craic is for Unionists who live as a minority community in the south and west of our Province.

“Too often, many of us have concentrated upon our own immediate backyard and haven’t shown a willingness to learn what the varying experiences of our Unionist colleagues elsewhere in this Province are. I believe it is imperative for us, if we are to move forward as a Party to cast aside this cultural mindset, perhaps better described as a; debilitating parochial shackle!

“Life for Unionists in Strangford is very different to life for Unionists in South Armagh. In Strangford Ulster Unionism’s principle opponent is the DUP. In my neck of the woods, our principle opponent is Sinn Fein, its’ parents, the Provisional IRA and the hawks in the dissident republican factions.

“In Strangford the growth of the economy and its associated outworkings is arguably the principle issue for local unionist inhabitants. In South Armagh, the priority for Unionism is survival and a wish to be tolerated as valued neighbours by the majority nationalist/republican community.

“Despite the different lives we lead, there are undoubtedly collective unifying aims and objectives which we, as Ulster Unionists all share; our wish to remain as part of the Union of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, to see this Union promoted and strengthened, to see Northern Ireland stand on its own two feet and become a political entity which is considered successful both locally and Internationally, our wish to see the violence and paramilitarism which has marred our past to be once and for all consigned to the dustbin of history, our wish to see our young people progress in life educationally, to create the circumstances whereby our young people wish to settle in Northern Ireland, work and raise their families as opposed to leaving us for the perceived “greener pastures of Mainland UK.”

“We, as Ulster Unionists want the same things, we want a society which is at ease with itself, which cherishes, instead of regrets the fact that we are so culturally diverse.

“The good news story of our increased membership should be publicized by our Party throughout the media and the Province in counteraction of the defections of “so-called Ulster Unionists” to the Tory Party. As someone who lives as a Unionist in Crossmaglen I simply cannot fathom the rationale of individuals such as Peter Bowles, James Leslie and your own Bob Lyttle. Regardless of these individuals’ frustrations as to how local politics here has become semi-paralysed, they should understand that their actions have served only one purpose, to divide Unionism further, promote disenchantment within that community and weaken that community’s efforts at instilling a sense of cohesion within it.

“Many of you here tonight will have stronger memories than me of what the Tory Party has done for Unionism and this Province. Remember the nightmare year 1985 when the Tory Party began the process of selling Unionism down the river through the Anglo-Irish Agreement? History has proven time and time again that the Conservative Party are incapable of doing in Government for Unionism what they purport to support when in opposition. I accept and regret the fact that the UUP have become marginalized from the greater politics of our Nation in recent times but I cannot and do not support the reckless movement of “so-called Unionists” to the non-entity that is the Northern Ireland Conservatives Movement.

“Rather I believe that we, as a Party should be striking up relationships with Mainland opinion through the parameters of our own Party vision. Only this morning, I met with our Party Leader, Sir Reg to discuss an idea, which I hope to develop in the coming weeks of Unionist outreach with Political Schools and Societies based in mainland UK Universities.

“Ulster Unionism needs to get its’ message out to a wider audience; we need to court local, National and International support. Without our movement there would be no Northern Ireland, we won the right to call this part of our Island, Northern Ireland and a Constituent Province of the United Kingdom. It is us who have fought throughout our history to bring about peace and cohesiveness within and between our communities. It is us, who sacrificed our electoral supremacy in exchange for the better good of our Country, it us who continue to provide responsible political leadership to all the people of Northern Ireland. We may not be the lead electoral voice within Unionism, but our words our based upon the principles of equity, diversity and interdependence between our people. Our words and actions are not exclusively motivated and are not designed to augment sectarian rivalries.

“We offer the best hope for the future of this Province, we have a vision which accommodates our diverse peoples, and it is that vision which each of us must evangelize out there in wider society.”

Speaking of further initiatives, which have taken place under the remit of the Youth Development portfolio, Kenny added:

“Over the course of the Summer, a series of training seminars were held which gave younger members a good grounding in the principles of PR, interacting with the public - canvassing, political campaigning etc.

“As the new Young Unionists build centrally, it is incumbent upon all of us to work towards establishing Youth Branches in Constituencies across this Province. It is imperative that young people are also recruited and integrated into their local Branches and Constituency Association.

“I look around the room and the story is similar to Ulster Unionist get-togethers throughout the Province, there is an absence of younger folk under 45 years of age. If we do not redress this cycle at local level, our Party frankly cannot continue indefinitely. We must therefore increase our appeal to a broader range of the electorate – one initiative I will be taking forward in the coming weeks is that of; establishing a research team under the Youth Development portfolio who will be charged with developing ideas and formulating policy in areas which specifically concern our young people – getting on the Property ladder, youth suicide, motor insurance, financing Higher Education, combating the scourge of drugs and the opportunists who seek to imprison our young people through addiction.