Bruton solicits support for FG heave

RICHARD BRUTON has personally contacted Fine Gael front benchers to see if they’re prepared to oust party leader Enda Kenny, senior TDs have said.

Two frontbenchers last night told the Irish Examiner they had received calls from Mr Bruton and expressed surprise that the deputy leader would be so “naive” in making the contacts himself rather than through proxies.

It came as Mr Bruton remained silent on the possibility of challenging Mr Kenny’s leadership at a meeting of the Fine Gael frontbench in Leinster House tomorrow.

Mr Kenny’s handlers scrambled to shore up his leadership following last week’s calamitous opinion poll, which showed Fine Gael four points behind Labour and failing to capitalise on public anger with the Government.

The shock result instantly sparked a new round of speculation about Mr Kenny’s position, with claims he would be finished if Mr Bruton challenged him.

The two frontbenchers, who wished to remain anonymous, said Mr Bruton had contacted them yesterday to discuss the situation.

One of the frontbenchers said Mr Bruton was “full of intent”, but predicted he would not have sufficient support to oust Mr Kenny.

Only “four or five” of the 19-member frontbench would be prepared to support a heave, he claimed.

“It strikes me as a bit naive if you haven’t got the numbers to be having a lash,” the frontbencher said.

The second frontbencher said of Mr Bruton: “He has to make up his mind now whether to show loyalty to the party leader or table a motion of no confidence.”

Mr Bruton did not return a call seeking comment. Mr Kenny’s spokesman refused to comment on a possible challenge by Mr Bruton, saying only: “There has been no formal comment or public statement from any individual on that matter.”

Privately, Fine Gael HQ indicated it would not comment on “speculation” about possible heaves when nobody had publicly identified themselves.

They also predicted any heave would not gain sufficient support. “A small number of people have a decision to make as to how the next number of days play out,” a party source said. “Some people thought Enda would walk away from this at the prospect of a challenge (from Mr Bruton). But I think they misjudged Enda.”

The issue is expected to come into the open at tomorrow’s frontbench meeting. “It’s a two-way street,” one TD said. “Enda probably has to defend his position and others probably have to decide if his defence is sufficient.”

The issue will detract from Fine Gael’s motion of no confidence in Taoiseach Brian Cowen, which is set for an all-day Dáil debate tomorrow.

The Government has countered with a motion of confidence in Mr Cowen.