Enda Kenny has avoided a showdown with his frontbench by ending the meeting just minutes after it started.
The Fine Gael leader told his front bench that he would be reshuffling them next Monday after he receives the backing of the Parliamentary Party on Thursday.
It had been expected Enda Kenny would demand the backing of each member of the frontbench.
Mr. Kenny told the gathering that every one of the 70 members of the Parliamentary Party would have a say at a special meeting on Thursday morning and that was the place to decide the issue of the leadership.
Showdown
Afterwards a group of front bench spokespeople claimed the majority of Fine gael no longer wants Enda Kenny as party leader.
The were Denis Naughten, Olwyn Enright, Olivia Mitchell, Leo Varadkar, Simon Coveney, Brian Hayes, Fergus O’Dowd, Billy Timmins and Michael Creed.
This morning the numbers of the front bench backing Enda Kenny was 8 while 9 were backing Richard Bruton. It is understood the plot against Mr Kenny was hatched as far back as January.
Mr. Kenny will table a motion of no-confidence in Taoiseach, Brian Cowen later – a move he signalled before his leadership crisis. It is unclear how his front bench will behave during the Taoiseach’s confidence motion.
Public Power Struggle
Enda Kenny yesterday fired his deputy leader, Richard Bruton, after he refused to back him and said he would be launching a leadership bid.
Mr. Kenny has tabled a motion of confidence in himself to be put before the 69 person Fine Gael parliamentary party on Thursday.
Richard Bruton says he will oppose this.
Analysis & Audio
Newstalk anchor and former Fine Gael cabinet minister, Ivan Yates, gives Claire Byrne the background to the coup and the opposition Enda Kenny will face later…
Ivan Yates spoke to both Bruton and Kenny’s backers and outlines how the vote of 69 in the parliamentary party can fall…
Fine Gael Senator, John-Paul Phelan, tells Claire Byrne the game is up for Enda Kenny
Harry McGee of the Irish Times, speaks to Ivan and Claire about the coup…
