Brexit and referendum on Eighth mean Leo should resist calling an election... for now

THE Government is riding high in the polls, but should resist calling an election for the moment.

It’s no mean feat that a party that stood over rigid and harsh austerity policies, is regularly dogged by its repeated botching of the Garda whistleblower controversy, and has been in power for seven straight years has increased in popularity by six points in six months.

Much of it is linked to the reinvigoration that came from Leo Varadkar’s election as party leader. His popularity is on 58pc – an increase of nine points from when he first took over last June. Undoubtedly his age, as well as his new-found socially liberal stances and globalist outlook, has attracted younger voters.

Being the lead party to campaign for same-sex marriage – albeit because of pressure from the Labour Party during their coalition partnership – reoriented how young voters viewed Fine Gael.

This Cabinet is markedly different than the last. It is far younger; it is for all intents and purposes a one-party Government, so there is less push-and-pull between the partners.

The evolved position of cabinet ministers such as Regina Doherty, Simon Harris, Eoghan Murphy and Mr Varadkar (right) himself support and campaign for to profound changes to abortion in Ireland has also enamoured the party to young liberal-types whose natural home would traditionally be Labour.

That the economy is on the face of it recovering obviously plays well.

It appears its abysmal record on housing and homelessness hasn’t bothered its supporters in a way that perhaps it should.

In the last election, Fine Gael lost a considerable number of seats and the party regretted not calling an election months earlier when the polls showed it had cause for optimism.

So, perhaps Leo should strike while the iron’s hot? Probably not given the vast swathe of pressing matters facing the Government in the coming months.

Firstly, there is a large amount of support for a referendum on repealing the Eighth Amendment in May or June.

Moreover, the unsettling and high-stakes nature of Brexit requires stability and the utmost vigilance at this delicate time.

The Government along with its team of highly competent officials have so far traversed the complexities of the Brexit conundrum with considerable adeptness.

It would be perceived as almost treacherous to be seen to take the Government’s eye off the ball on this.

The public would see straight through the opportunism and likely view it cynically.

It would need a legitimate reason, such as a threat from Fianna Fáil, that would prevent it from governing.

That’s very unlikely.