Kenny is no mug, just look at the figures

THERE are many people in politics who continue to take Enda Kenny for a mug. Taoiseach Brian Cowen is the embodiment of it, his low opinion of Kenny evident in his withering putdowns of the Fine Gael leader in the Dáil.

Cowen is not alone. Numerous people in Fianna Fáil detest Mr Kenny, regarding him as nothing more than a ventriloquist’s dummy — the suggestion being that his small coterie of influential advisers are pulling the strings. The media, too, has been fiercely critical at times.

And yet, this is Fine Gael’s electoral record since Kenny was appointed leader: in the 2004 local elections, the party won 16 extra seats and came within 10 seats of overtaking Fianna Fáil at local government level. In the European elections that same year, Fine Gael succeeded in overtaking Fianna Fáil as the biggest party at European level, winning five seats to the latter’s four.