Kenny gone as leader if Bruton withdraws his support: Times

[Baron von Biffo]

"I've always supported our party leaders" says Richard.

He's not being unequivocal. Or is that my imagination.

That struck me too. Tepid support at best. The 'mutterings' may become audible after the next poll or Kenny's next 'Baby' moment.

[meriwether]

Sorry!

I meant Mara.

That made me chuckle - I had a vision of Mansergh giving a talk on electoral tactics to the machine, waving his arms and screeching to emphasise points about 'key voter demograhics' 'the big mo' and 'message awareness'.

[Gael Nua]

Not according to his Newstalk interview. He fully acknowledged his own mistakes and poor recent media performances.

Do you think? The message i got was that he had been taking his lead from others up to this point but that now he would live or die by his own sword. Thought it questions his leadership if he had merely been a mouthpiece previously.

[kerrynorth]

On RTE he did say that the frontbench meeting involved the euphemistic 'full and frank discussion' i.e. their was blood on the floor at the end of it. No doubt a number of front benchers pulled him up re his media performances.

[Oldira1]

Nonsense he's fire fighting to keep his position as leader of the biggest opposition party, at a time when he should be scoring easy points against the govt. Don't think we've heard the last of this Kenny leadership saga, mutter mutter

But who will suceed him? Bruton obviously was the real reason Lee left and what exactly has Bruton done in his near three decades in the Dáil? Bruton is not liked in the FG parlimentary party..respected yes but he is very distant and a poor listener. Hayes? A smary git who will lose them 10 percentage points straight away. Naughten? A small step above county council level...same as Phil Hogan. Leo The Vandal....perhaps the best bet.

[The Field Marshal]

Kennius:" Methinks yon Georgius hath a lean and hungary look"?

Brutus: " Yes,he thinks too much,such men are dangerous"

Kennius:"let me have men about me that are fat like Cowenius or sleek headed like Martinius"

Brutus: shouts "Beware the Ides of March" and stabs Kennius.

Kennius:"Eh tu Brute"

Georgius bursts on stage roaring:"You blocks,you stones"

[johnfás]

But who will suceed him? Bruton obviously was the real reason Lee left and what exactly has Bruton done in his near three decades in the Dáil? Bruton is not liked in the FG parlimentary party..respected yes but he is very distant and a poor listener. Hayes? A smary git who will lose them 10 percentage points straight away. Naughten? A small step above county council level...same as Phil Hogan. Leo The Vandal....perhaps the best bet.

Purposely leaving out Coveney or an oversight?

[White Horse]

No doubt a number of front benchers pulled him up re his media performances.

I hope they did. FG cannot afford sloppy performances such as the ones delivered recently by Kenny.

I don't blame Kenny for the Lee debacle. That reflects on Lee, in my opinion. However, Kenny's media performances are a different matter.

[droghedasouth]

I hope they did. FG cannot afford sloppy performances such as the ones delivered recently by Kenny.

I don't blame Kenny for the Lee debacle. That reflects on Lee, in my opinion. However, Kenny's media performances are a different matter.

+1

[Rocky]

That struck me too. Tepid support at best. The 'mutterings' may become audible after the next poll or Kenny's next 'Baby' moment.

It was, but what I took from that interview, more then anything else was that Bruton was poor. Mumbling, failing to answer questions or making any real point. It was a very agressive interview, but still, Kenny was far better.

I think Richard Bruton is great and I think he is a fanastic deputy leader and spokesperson for Fianance and would make a great Minister for Finance and if Kenny does leave soon, I think Bruton should replace him. But I don't think he would make a better leader then Kenny.

And for me that is the real question, it's not should Enda go, it is who is the best man to lead Fine Gael and right now despite all that has happened, I still believe that is Enda Kenny. His performances today have strengthed that belief.