Rebel Fine Gael TDs declare no confidence in Kenny
Nine rebel Fine Gael frontbench TDs publicly declared no confidence in embattled leader Enda Kenny today.
After Mr Kenny went on the attack and accused some of his shadow cabinet of shirking their duties on the political front lines, those backing a leadership coup claimed he does not have enough support to stay on.
Party sources revealed a defiant Mr Kenny let fly with some “home truths” in a terse meeting in Leinster House before dramatically denying anyone the right to reply or challenge him.
He is planning a reshuffle on Monday – if he survives Thursday’s confidence vote in front of the 70-strong parliamentary party.
The TDs supporting a coup instigated by sacked TD Richard Bruton are: spokesman Denis Naughten, Leo Varadkar, Olwyn Enright, Olivia Mitchell, Brian Hayes, Simon Coveney, Billy Timmins, Michael Creed and Fergus O’Dowd.
The “Bruton wing”, which held a breakfast meeting in the Green Isle Hotel on the outskirts of west Dublin to cement a takeover plan, claimed they have a majority and wanted Mr Kenny to step down quietly to avoid a divisive takeover contest.
But a spokesman for the Mayo TD said the front bench had been warned it was their last meeting ahead of a reshuffle early next week.
It is understood a number of key players, including Mr Bruton, were singled out and accused of not pulling their weight with public and media engagements to defend and promote the party and its policies.
Mr Kenny outlined why he had sacked Mr Bruton and it is understood he walked out without giving opponents the chance to challenge his criticisms or leadership.
A spokesman said Mr Kenny, who chaired the meeting, looked forward to every one of the 70 Fine Gael parliamentarians having their say on Thursday when his position will be debated. Mr Kenny said that was the only place to decide the leadership.
He closed the meeting within about half an hour insisting he was also looking forward to leading Fine Gael into the next general election.
A spokesman said he expected Fine Gael “to continue its electoral record of success and lead the next government”.
The two sides of the parliamentary party will go head to head on Thursday when the 51 TDs, 15 Senators and four MEPs vote on whether to keep Mr Kenny at the helm.
Mr Naughten, who claimed he voted for Mr Kenny in the last leadership battle in 2002 and had been an ardent supporter since then, said the leader had lost support.
“The majority of the front bench I have to sadly say isn’t supportive of the party leader and we believe that is repeated throughout the parliamentary party,” Mr Naughten said.
“If we had the opportunity to speak to Enda we would have asked him to withdraw the motion of confidence, to consider his position and step down as party leader in the interests of the party.
“I personally found it extremely difficult to do what I’m doing.”
He added: “I had hoped that I would have the opportunity to express my reservations to the party leader, ask him from my own point of view that in the interests of the party to actually step aside and not have what I believe will be a very damaging leadership contest.”
