Simon Coveney’s politeness and policies prove no match for Leo Varadkar

If the Fine Gael leadership race had kicked off with the hustings and not a catwalk of declarations, we would have a very different contest, and possibly a different winner, writes Elaine Loughlin.

But big-bang politics has reached Ireland, and Simon Coveney should have known.

Coveney had planned to build up a slow and steady groundswell of support over the two-week campaign. As he unveiled his detailed policies around the future of the party, the Government and the country, Fine Gael members would row in behind the bluer-than-blue candidate.