Public needs a break from logical Leo

FOR such a clever lad, Leo Varadkar sure lacks emotional intelligence.

I was on a radio show with him not so long ago when the famous host was away and replaced by a stand-in.

During the ad break, Mr Varadkar turned to the well-known stand-in and said something to the effect of: “When’s the real talent getting back?”

He did not mean it in a nasty way, he just has an unfortunate manner with things like that, and the presenter, though clearly annoyed, pretended not to hear him even though they were only three feet apart. And while not normally known for my diplomatic skills, it was left to me to try and break the tension.

In my best faux-light hearted voice I said: “That might be considered a tad rude, Leo?”

To which he huffed his shoulders and said: “Everybody knows I don’t have any people skills.”

So, in his world view, he was right even though he was in the wrong.

And, in an age of plastic politicians, there is usually something strangely likeable about Leo’s utter bluffness as he refuses to apologise for any offence he causes as long as he can justify it logically.

In that respect he is the closest thing the Cabinet has to a Vulcan — and is it merely a coincidence that he and Star Trek’s Spock are both doctors?

So, in that context, his remarks on taking a holiday are perfectly, well, logical — it’s everybody else that has the problem, not him.

What could be more logical than a tourism minister urging people to go on holiday, he mused in a bemused way, yesterday.

Well Leo, there’s a certain way of doing things and boasting to the “little people” that they will only be six quid a week worse off after the budget, and hey, its only ministers like him on a paltry €169,275 a year who are going to have to endure pay cuts, makes you sound like an arrogant, out of touch fool — totally ignorant of the financial fear and anxiety that now grips almost every family in this country.

As a Vulcanesque arithmetical theorem it may all seem so logical, but in The Real World back on Planet Recession, people are not thinking about the lovely holiday they will now be able to afford because of the fact Mr Varadkar and his pals believe they deserve our pathetic gratitude as they will only beat us up financially rather than actually leave us for dead — no, those families are a bit too concerned about minor things like mortgage arrears and how to pay the bills to have time to flick through sunshine brochures.

But don’t expect Mr Varadkar to understand that — he just simply does not get the offence he caused, and he never will.

It’s all part of a political personality that intrigues and irritates in equal measure.

Despite his social awkwardness — or maybe because of it — Leo sees no problem in letting film crews record him rooting around his pristine, but bland, kitchen, looking for a ready meal for one to put in the microwave.

He also has no qualms sharing his fears about carrying too much weight with the public — much like a royal bride worried about shedding enough pounds ahead of that big day at Westminster Abbey.

In fact, maybe it’s all just some kind of cry for help, maybe Leo is the one who needs — and can easily afford — a long vacation away from public life.

All together now: “We’re all going on a Leo holiday/ No more recession for a week or two/ We can’t pay the mortgage or feed the kids/ but Leo Varadkar says it will be coo-ool/ Leo Varadkar’s a foo-ool…”