George Lee has accused Fine Gael of trying to blacken his name after rumours were spread he was leaving politics because the money wasn’t good enough.

The former TD is still under fire from his former colleagues, with one declaring today that George wanted to be on a pedestal instructing people.

Leo Varadkar’s verdict on George Lee was that he wanted to be “the only person on the stage”.

He thinks the former Economics Correspondent’s ego wasn’t satisfied by the reality of life in politics.

And Deputy Varadkar told Lunchtime with Eamon Keane he regrets not taking George under his wing.

“He needed more mentoring, that he needed more help, that he needed more support, he needed more attention and more encouragement – and I’m sorry I didn’t do more of that” he said.

Another colleague – Brian Hayes has been suggesting George quit because of the money.

George has hit back saying he could have stayed for lucrative pensions and avouched expenses, saying a party machine was out to denigrate him now.

“They are clutching at straws, and scrapping the bottom of the barrel trying to denigrate me – there’s about 70 of them, and an organisation with a whole press team around them” Lee said.

He’s also denied he’s returning to RTE because he has his eye on being Washington Correspondent.