Leadership in balance as Cowen dealt double blow

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen’s leadership of Fianna Fáil and the country hangs by a thread today with further revelations over his handling of Anglo Irish Bank and a senior minister signalling that the battle for the leadership is not over.

Late last night it emerged former senior Anglo executive David Drumm has claimed Mr Cowen sought to get the National Treasury Management Agency to place money with Anglo in a bid to help the troubled bank — something which Mr Cowen has strenuously denied.

In a further blow to the Taoiseach, Foreign Affairs Minister and potential next leader Micheál Martin has sent a clear signal that the battle for the leadership of Fianna Fáil is not over, urging TDs to “have their say on the future of the party” when they meet with Brian Cowen.