Simon Coveney stages comeback

Self-described “underdog” Simon Coveney received a significant boost to his flagging campaign, as it has emerged he is the preferred choice of voters to lead Fine Gael over Leo Varadkar.

As the candidates took harsh swipes at each other at the first of four regional hustings in Dublin last night, a new poll published minutes before the event began showed Mr Coveney is the public’s favourite to succeed Enda Kenny as Taoiseach.

At the hustings last night, despite the wide belief that he cannot catch Mr Varadkar, Mr Coveney appeared buoyant and confident as he addressed more than 800 party members but admitted his campaign got off to a terrible start.