George Lee resigns from Fine Gael and as a TD

[sarahj]

Will he join another party? He seemed reluctant about going back to RTE on Newstalk's interview?

[Libero]

Your own eyes and ears are enough to tell you that he was being held back. His profile was so low he could have slid under a mat. Personally I was disappointed with him and felt that he had willingly done so. This was a guy that was articulating the problems with the governments economic policies for years in a way that ordinary people - the ones that will be voting in the next general election - understood, and trusted. And FG neutered him out of fear. In 2009. The year when nothing other than economics ever got a look in. Lunacy. 9 months in 2009/10 in relation to the debate about the economic future of this country is an eternity.

+1

The Fine Gael Parliamentary Party looks more and more like a disparate gang of tribal time-servers, content to wait their turn in office, before having a nice retirement and passing their seats onto their children.

For all the anti-government rhetoric and Dáil hystrionics, the sidelining of Lee shows them to be deeply unserious about the problems facing the country, and far too quick to show a cold attitude towards a relative outsider.

Worse than that, I increasingly get the sense that Fine Gaelers, from activist level up, have a sense that the economic crisis is too big to fix, especially with FF's recent borrowing splurge and especially in coalition with Labour. They look forward to beating Fianna Fáil, but not what comes after. They even worry that they'll do FF a favour by allowing them time in opposition to regroup, perhaps as the cash truly dries up and the country collapses for real.

[evercloserunion]

Will he join another party? He seemed reluctant about going back to RTE on Newstalk's interview?

He shouldn't be allowed back.

[cyberianpan]

Will he join another party? He seemed reluctant about going back to RTE on Newstalk's interview?

Maybe Lenihan will hire him as an adviser ?

cYp

[borntorum]

This is a very very disappointing development. It makes it appear that Irish politics is unfixable. And maybe it isl.

Hold on. A political prima donna has had a hissy fit only 9 months after being elected. I don't think that tells us anything about Irish politics one way or another

[sandar]

he shouldnt be permitted to return to rte as a reporter his politics are too public...

[liamfoley]

He shouldn't be allowed back.

True, anyone who is not prepared to do the hard work of politics, representing the people for example, does not need to be in politics. You do not need to stand for election to help a party develop it's policy. People like Lee are not needed in the Dáil.

[goosebump]

George Lee made a tit of himself on a number of occasions since his election (not least in his drubbing by Lenihan at the Glenties Summer School) and won't actually be missed by FG all that much. The manner of his departure however will accelerate the momentum of disgruntlement with Kenny. From an FF perspective I hope he can hang on.

Lee was so clever at economics that he said we didn't need public sector pay cuts at a time when the Government was borrowing 13% of GDP to fund our current budget.

Only a true genius could figure that out.

[sarahj]

he shouldnt be permitted to return to rte as a reporter his politics are too public...

Isn't it a good thing to know journalist's political inclinations? Makes it easier to spot their biases when you know their leanings?

[sandar]

Isn't it a good thing to know journalist's political inclinations? Makes it easier to spot their biases when you know their leanings?

if they are any good they will seem impartial....that doesnt seem to matter in rte but in proper news organisations it would............what party does tubridy vote for.........I think we can guess....but paxman...I dont think we can.........