Simon and Leo are warned: Even hint at an early election and you are toast
Coveney camp is warning that Varadkar loves TV and drama of a campaign
THE two main Fine Gael leadership candidates, Leo Varadkar and Simon Coveney, have been warned by their own supporters that even a ‘hint’ of an early election will scupper their chances.
Sources close to both candidates said they had been warned: ‘If there is even a possibility of an early election you are toast.’ Mr Varadkar, who visited Galway with Ciaran Cannon and Limerick with Patrick O’Donovan last week, is believed to be more likely to call an election to seek his own mandate should he become Fine Gael leader when Enda Kenny steps down. However, the Social Protection Minister moved last week to dismiss the idea, saying it would be unfair to the Coalition’s Independent partners.
Mr Varadkar insisted he would not do what Theresa May did in Britain and call a snap election, noting that he doubted Fine Gael would be 20% ahead in the polls in the immediate future, as the Tories are in Britain at the moment. One pro-Varadkar source said the Coveney camp was ‘busy spreading the rumour’ that Leo was itching to call a general election.
They insider added: ‘There are a lot of people who are very comfortable in here now, they don’t care whether “new politics” is working or not. Their only concern is to stay here and damn the consequences for the country.’ The Coveney camp told the Irish Mail on Sunday: ‘Our concern is Leo doesn’t have the patience to wait around with Fianna Fáil having its foot permanently on his neck’. Another said: ‘Leo has a low boredom threshold; he simply won’t be able to resist the challenge, bright lights and the TV screens.’
They dismissed Mr Varadkar’s concerns about the Independents, saying: ‘He is not going to be too worried about the Independent Alliance either.’ And said he ‘would nearly be happier in Opposition. He does not have the patience’.
Mr Coveney has also been warned by close supporters to rule out an early election. One senior source within the camp warned: ‘Even the notion that we might be going to the country would be catastrophic, he wouldn’t get a single vote from the Seanad.’
Mr Coveney, who visited Clare with Senator Martin Conway last week, was also warned that ‘TDs are in no condition to endure a general election; they would feel like turkeys voting for Christmas’. Fianna Fáil insiders also believe the snap election has seriously destabilised the party’s confidence in the long-term prospects of its confidence and supply pact with the Government.