John McGuirk

So, you know how it is? I go away for a few days, leave the blog idle, and a thermonuclear device goes off in the middle of my absence. George Lee’s decision has political implications, and will, in my view, almost certainly ensure that Enda Kenny’s dream of becoming Taoiseach falls by the wayside despite 35 years of pursuing it. But others can write about that.

George Lee is nothing if not smart. So far today, he’s been on (that I know of) the RTE News at One, Liveline, Lunchtime on Newstalk, and Today FM. He has dominated the airwaves. His message – that he was sidelined and ignored – is the one which has permeated the national consciousness. If my hunch is correct, he’ll be in studio with Brian Dobson this evening, and on the panel with pat Kenny tonight. He knows that the story people hear first is the one they’ll be inclined to believe.

By contrast, the Fine Gael leadership, such as it is, are in hiding in a bunker somewhere. A milquetoast statement from Enda Kenny emphasising the things he had asked George to do only reinforces the narrative that this was about George being ignored – it does nothing to change it, and it must be changed if the party is to limit the damage.

The response they should be making is not to defend themselves against George – he will win any bitchfest by virtue of his lingering popularity – but to take his side. This is a moment for Kenny to step  up and take responsibility. Apologise to the party for not seeing the strain Lee was feeling earlier. Acknowledge that our political system is the problem – something that Lucinda Creighton was smart enough to do earlier when speaking to Eamon Keane – and emphasise the need for change. Damn Lee with faint praise – if somebody as talented and tough as George couldn’t stand the heat, it’s because the kitchen is too hot and we need real reform to make the Dáil a place where talented people can do well without the need for internal party patronage. Done well, it might not save Kenny, but it might turn this mess somewhat back in Fine Gael’s favour.

As it is, they’re bungling this. Massively. As usual. George Lee is martyring himself, and is doing so by not just damning Enda Kenny, but the entire Fine Gael party which he says is cold, cliquish, and hostile to outside voices. On a personal note, and as an aside, this absolutely confirms my own experience with them.

This is damaging not because of Lee – this story will be forgotten in a few weeks – but because of what it does to reinforce the narrative that Fine Gael cannot lead. As in all moments of adversity, there’s an opportunity here to change that. It will not be taken, because the Fine Gael communications shop is, has been, and seems destined to remain, utterly, unforgivably, incompetent.