Party leader no longer a ‘credible alternative’

REBEL Fine Gael TD Richard Bruton has opened fire on his party leader Enda Kenny and launched an outright campaign to replace him.

An hour after he was sacked as finance spokesman and deputy leader, Mr Bruton said his party leader was no longer a credible alternative to Taoiseach Brian Cowen.

He said Mr Kenny had been found wanting on economic issues and his leadership had faltered at crucial times. He said he felt Mr Kenny had lost the confidence of the people.

“I’m disappointed I won’t have the opportunity to first discuss the issue with my own party colleagues but I will be opposing his intention to have a confidence motion,” Mr Bruton told TV3.

“I believe he does not have the capacity at this stage to deal with the difficult problem that the country faces. I believe that people have lost confidence in him.

“He has done tremendous work. His efforts cannot be criticised but unfortunately he has not been able to convince people that he can manage the difficulties that lie ahead.”

Mr Bruton said he believed a clear majority of Fine Gael’s front bench and its parliamentary party wanted a change at the helm.

“What we needed at this stage was for Enda to step down and for a new leader to be appointed. I believe that would give the party the opportunity to rebuild credibility on vital issues,” he told RTÉ television.

He said on a number of occasions Mr Kenny had promised to change and improve his image, but these had not worked. The Dublin north-central deputy said if Mr Kenny’s leadership did not survive Thursday’s vote of confidence he would run for the post himself. He claimed he had the economic, ministerial and political experience to lead the country.

Mr Bruton said he would not take this week’s battles for granted. However, he thought most Fine Gael politicians would support his revolt. And that it was accepted Mr Kenny’s achievements rebuilding the party were of their time and something else was needed now.

“In different times he has been successful in elections. But now we are facing a crisis of unprecedented proportions. And people have been looking to see can Enda present a convincing case that he can manage the economic problem, that he can secure people’s future, that he has the capacity for reform and to deliver and implement that reform. And I think he has been found wanting,” he said.

He said the party could remain united despite the heave and asked for loyalty to each other to be set aside in favour of deciding what was best for the country.

The former finance spokesman said he would have preferred not to air his grievances in public until he had the chance to discuss them at today’s front bench meeting. But this was taken out of his hands.

Mr Bruton said there had been a number of occasions when Mr Kenny’s leadership was discussed, before last week’s opinion poll, but it had reached the end of the road.

The party now had to decide if there was scope for its leader to finally find favour with the electorate between now and the next general election.

“He has tried but it hasn’t been successful and at a certain point you have to decide do you remain loyal to an individual, who we all like, who has done a lot for the party. Or do we say we have to try something better. Fine Gael is not fulfilling our potential under Enda Kenny,” he said.