Varadkar forced to back off plan for party ‘Yes’ campaign

TAOISEACH Leo Varadkar had to beat a full-scale retreat after his suggestion that Fine Gael would campaign as a party for a Yes vote in the abortion referendum was condemned by his parliamentary party.

The idea of a Fine Gael campaign had been mooted at an Executive Council meeting.

However, the catalyst for the rebellion at the meeting of TDs and Senators was Marcella Corcoran Kennedy declaring: ‘We need to trust the women.’

One source noted: ‘There was a furious backlash at being lectured at. Everyone is fed up of it.’

One pro-life minister revealed that Varadkar finally said: ‘“Grand, no campaign so” – and that was the end of that. Failure is an orphan under Leo.’