ENDA KENNY’S prospects of surviving as Fine Gael leader suffered a setback with the defection of two high-profile party spokesmen on the eve of today’s confidence motion.
However, Mr Kenny remained confident he would win today’s vote by a comfortable margin despite claims by his opponents that they have the numbers to defeat him. The outcome will come down to the decision of a handful of parliamentary party members who have not declared their allegiance for either Mr Kenny or his challenger, Richard Bruton.
The decision of veteran frontbench TD and justice spokesman Charles Flanagan and acting finance spokesman Kieran O’Donnell to declare against Mr Kenny yesterday came at a crucial stage.
Mr Kenny’s supporters continued to insist last night that they had the numbers to win today’s vote by a comfortable margin of 41 votes to 29. His opponents maintained that the margin would be much closer and that Mr Kenny would lose narrowly.
The nature of the debate within the parliamentary party shifted in the final stages of the campaign as Fine Gael TDs and senators weighed up the consequences of a close outcome.
Wavering TDs feared a narrow victory for Mr Kenny might not settle the leadership issue for good but a narrow defeat, even by one vote, would take it off the political agenda in the run-up to the next election. If Mr Kenny wins, he will appoint a new front bench on Monday although some of his leading opponents, including Mr Bruton, have ruled themselves out of consideration.
If the vote goes the other way it will trigger a leadership election and candidates will have seven days to submit nomination papers. Simon Coveney last night ruled himself out of contention in any contest and said all of those who had opposed Mr Kenny would support Mr Bruton.
Flanked by key supporters, Mr Bruton told a press conference at Leinster House last evening that the momentum was now with him and he was fully confident of victory.
“My first loyalty is to the people of our country. They have lost so much due to failed politics. We must make our country secure again. When we do this, we will do so much for our people,” said Mr Bruton who added that Fine Gael needed a leader who had the confidence of the people.
“I have not taken the decision to seek to become leader of my party and of the country lightly. I have the resolve and the determination to see it through. It is the right thing to do for our party and for the country at this time of extreme challenge,” said Mr Bruton.
“My message to Enda Kenny is obviously I would prefer if this motion didn’t have to go ahead, a lot of people thought that this could be resolved internally, but a vote is now to be held and I think that will go ahead.” Mr Bruton said Fine Gael would unite after the decision today but he repeated his determination not to serve in Mr Kenny’s new front bench should the leader win the confidence motion.
Mr Kenny’s campaign manager, Phil Hogan, gave a press conference a short time later flanked by 20 supporters of the leader. He expressed confidence Mr Kenny would win the vote and expressed desire for a decisive result. “We want to make sure there will be a decisive majority to strengthen his position,” he said.
Mr Hogan also expressed disappointment at Mr Bruton’s unwillingness to serve in a new front bench and he appealed to all of those opposed to the leader to make themselves available to serve the party.
The first blow to the Kenny camp came at lunchtime with the announcement by Mr O’Donnell that he intended to vote against the leader today. Later Mr Flanagan announced he too would vote against Mr Kenny despite his earlier statement of support.
Former party leader Michael Noonan has refused to say who he will be backing in his party’s leadership race. Speaking outside Leinster House, Mr Noonan said he knows which candidate will get his vote but said it would be inappropriate to divulge that publicly.