FINE GAEL leader Enda Kenny no longer commanded the support of the majority of the Fine Gael frontbench when he sacked his party’s deputy leader, supporters of Richard Bruton said last night.
The Fine Gael leader’s dramatic intervention pre-empted plans by Mr Bruton’s leading supporters to mount a “palace coup” at the planned meeting of the frontbench this morning.
The strategy was that those who opposed Mr Kenny would tell him personally that they could no longer back his continued leadership. Mr Bruton’s supporters were confident that they had the backing of 10 of the 19 frontbench members.
One of Mr Bruton’s supporters, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: “When the issue of his leadership was raised and a majority of the frontbench told him to his face that they no longer supported him, he would then reflect on his position.
“How can he possibly think he can continue when he knows that at least eight of his cabinet will not serve under him? How can he do that? That is the realpolitik.”
Mr Bruton asked those supporting him to make no public comments ahead of this morning’s meeting. In the event, only one member of the shadow cabinet, expressed public support for Mr Bruton yesterday. That was Fergus O’Dowd, who is in the United States. His backing for Mr Bruton signalled a change of allegiance on his part.
The members of the party frontbench who support Mr Bruton are: Brian Hayes, Leo Varadkar, Simon Coveney and Olivia Mitchell. Others who are believed be in the Bruton camp are: Michael Creed, Billy Timmins, Denis Naughten, and Olwyn Enright. None were available yesterday for comment.
Eight of the 19 have declared public support for Mr Kenny. They are: Phil Hogan; Paul Kehoe; Alan Shatter, Dr James Reilly; Charlie Flanagan; Jimmy Deenihan; Michael Ring and leader of the Seanad Frances Fitzgerald.
While this morning’s frontbench meeting will go ahead as scheduled – where Mr Kenny will face severe criticism from rivals over his decision to sack Mr Bruton – the issue of his leadership will be settled by the 69 members of the parliamentary party on Thursday.
Shortly after 4.45pm Mr Kenny contacted party chairman Pádraic McCormack to table a motion of confidence in his leadership, seconded by Mr Kehoe. The party’s TDs, Senators and MEPs will vote by secret ballot.
A phone survey of parliamentarians conducted by The Irish Timessuggested Mr Kenny had the support of a small majority as of last night.
Senator John Paul Phelan from Kilkenny also declared himself for Mr Bruton. “I’m certainly a Richard Bruton person now. I would’ve always been maybe leaning that way but I’m certainly in that camp.” He described Mr Kenny’s move to sack Mr Bruton as a “shocking error of judgment by the leader”.
Meanwhile, Mayo TD Michael Ring backed Mr Kenny, his constituency colleague: “You can put me into that camp 100 per cent.”
The third Fine Gael TD in the constituency, John O’Mahony, described himself as “totally supportive of Enda Kenny”.
Shane McEntee of Meath East said he was a supporter of Mr Kenny. “There’s no question about that,” he said.
Frank Feighan of Roscommon-South Leitrim said: “I’d be supporting Enda Kenny no matter what . . . he’s my neighbour. I don’t think anybody has any huge slight against Richard Bruton.”
Senator Liam Twomey, from Wexford, also identified himself as a supporter of Enda Kenny. He’s always been very fair with me, he said. Senator Paddy Burke, from Mayo, said he was “100 per cent” behind Mr Kenny.