What’s that important report, Richard?

After a Fine Gael frontbench meeting, deputy leader Richard Bruton with an article at Leinster House about Gordon Brown’s deputy, Harriet Harman, right, being nominated for a Rear of the Year Award.

AS George Lee’s honeymoon romance with Fine Gael ended on such a spectacular bum note, at least Richard Bruton could find solace in a cheeky peek at the chances of Harriet Harman’s bottom topping the Rear of the Year poll.

While Enda Kenny was desperately trying to stay ahead of the whispering campaign against him, Mr Bruton was caught looking behind his briefing notes at the deputy leader of the British Labour Party’s prospects for the coveted title.

Meanwhile, the Blueshirts continued to crash through their self-made crisis.

Fine Gael’s crown prince appeared relaxed enough for the trivialities of political life as embattled Enda faced down the prospect of Blueshirt regicide – the ‘killing’ of the king.

But then Mr Bruton and Gordon Brown’s number two, Ms Harman, have much in common, as both are ambitious deputy leaders of their parties, who have been forced to promise not to challenge their unpopular bosses for the top job in recent weeks.

Baby-faced Bruton may, at first glance, appear not to be such a divisive political figure as his counterpart in the British Labour Party – dubbed Harriet Harperson due to her forthright feminist views – but Mr Lee’s bombshell resignation has blown a big hole in Richard’s nice-guy image. There are claims of the former RTÉ star being sidelined and “used” by a Fine Gael finance spokes- person suspicious of his abilities and high profile swirling around Leinster House.