Leo Varadkar’s ‘shock and awe’ start has given him lead over Simon Coveney

Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar’s “shock and awe” start to his leadership campaign has given him an early but decisive lead over Housing Minister Simon Coveney in the race to become Taoiseach.

After the first day of the campaign, Mr Varadkar held a 31-17 lead over Mr Coveney in terms of publicly declared members of the parliamentary party.

Mr Coveney admitted it was “not a surprise” that he appeared to be behind at the end of he first day of campaigning.