If you’re a political leader, it doesn’t bode well when your former confidants, cabinet mates and former supporters sing the same praises as your opposition rivals.
The motion is backed by several high-profile Fine Gael Backbench TDs who once sat in cabinet with Mr Varadkar. These include Michael Ring, Paul Kehoe, Joe McHugh and Senator Regina Doherty. Granted, some of those listed may feel offended that they are no longer in the Cabinet, but they were once staunch supporters of the Fine Gael leader. Mr Varadkar has welcomed the debate among his peers and is very much in favor of Fine Gael having different views and policies to his coalition counterparts.
But dissent has a weird way of spreading. The fear among Fine Gael TDs is all down to numbers. They see the deteriorating opinion polls and think of their incomes and families that need to be supported.
Wouldn’t you worry if you were told your contract was up in two years and you’d have to convince a few thousand people that you did a good job if you wanted to keep it?
They’re also being inundated with calls and emails from voters suffering from mounting bills. The fear among TDs is that carbon tax hikes will be the last straw for a broad public exhausted by rising living costs and the housing crisis.
In reality, the carbon tax will not hit households too hard, but it is an additional burden. Things are getting tougher for businesses and Fine Gael prides itself on being the first port of call for the business community. Surely the Tánaiste isn’t also the Enterprise Minister?
Ultimately, the mini-rebellion may not mean much, but it signals danger for the Fine Gael leader, who has seen voters fleeing his party since taking office. Mr Varadkar’s supporters will insist that there have also been some positive poll results for Fine Gael of late. But the reality is he has fewer TDs in his party than Enda Kenny did when he resigned.
The problem for the Fine Gael rebels is that they are also playing into the hands of Sinn Féin. Mary Lou McDonald’s opposition to carbon taxes has long persisted despite the threat the Earth faces from the climate crisis.
So while trying to tap into public sentiment, the Fine Gael rebels can be counterproductive because they support Sinn Féin’s stance.
The Taoiseach faces a similar revolt but those who disagree Fianna Fail are regular critics of Micheál Martin. However, he will also have to deal with the issue of carbon taxes at his party’s meeting today.
Government leaders have pledged to find ways to offset the cost of the carbon tax for the people forced to pay it, but at the moment they don’t know how to do that. You have until the end of the month to find out, and there’s more at stake than just utility bills.
