Leadership

Kenny faces key front-bench meeting over Lee resignation

09.02.2010
Fine Gael’s leader Enda Kenny is expected to meet members of the party’s front bench later today to consider the fallout from the shock resignation of FG South TD George Lee from the party and the Dáil yesterday.

Lee shocked Fine Gael, and the country, yesterday when he announced that he was resigning from the party and giving up his seat in Dáil Eireann with immediate effect after just eight months in politics.

Lee explained in a statement yesterday that “despite my best efforts I have had virtually no influence or input into shaping Fine Gael's economic policies at this most critical time”.

Kenny is expected to face a tough meeting at Leinster House today following Lee’s announcement.

In a statement issued yesterday, Kenny outlined the roles he had given Lee during his time at Fine Gael.

Kenny also said he had anticipated “a very important role” for Lee in the coming period with Fine Gael “after a time of settling into a new career in politics”.

Speaking on RTE’s Frontline programme last night, Lee said while Enda Kenny had offered him a post on the Fine Gael front bench after he had indicated he was leaving the party this measure came too late. He added that it had "never been about a front-bench position for me" and that the problems in the economy needed to be addressed now and not later.

“There is no time to wait, it’s not about me waiting for a position,” Lee said.

RTE’s former economics editor also said yesterday that there were growing mutterings in the party about Enda Kenny’s leadership of the party.

Following his announcement last summer that he was to leave RTE and enter politics with Fine Gael, Lee topped the poll in the Dublin South by-election and was elected to Dáil Eireann.