The flight of George Lee, TD no more

To us in the general public the flight of George Lee’s toys from the pram came as quite a shock.
We are told that his unhappiness at not being given a more prominent role in the Fine Gael party had been building for some time but it seems that even those who were aware of this have been caught unawares by his decision to step down from both the party and the Dáil.
There are a number of ways of looking at his decision.
Firstly, we could say that Mr Lee’s naivety of the reality of political life and party politics has been laid bare for the public to see. The scale of his ego has also come into sharp focus but also one could argue his depth of integrity in being willing to admit that he has failed utterly in what he set out to do.
When he chose to leave his position as RTÉ economics editor and throw his lot in with Fine Gael, it was to great fanfare. Over 27,000 people in Dublin South endorsed him resoundingly at the by-election and he was swept into Leinster House on a wave of euphoria.
I don’t want to cheapen the astounding achievement of Barack Obama in being elected to the White House by drawing a direct comparison between the two but there are similarities. The election of a fresh face that promised hope and change is a common thread.
It is clear that the electorate viewed George Lee as somebody who was born of a place outside the political establishment and was going to shake it up when he got his hands on it. The folly of this belief is crystal clear just nine months later.
From the outset, Lee wanted to transplant his high profile television persona into Irish political life, seemingly ignoring the fact that those already there have fought like tigers, stabbed backs and engaged in the filthy game of politics for a very long time to achieve their positions. They don’t react kindly to anyone who struts into the house and simply demands position and influence; that’s just not how the game is played. George Lee fancied himself as finance spokesperson, perhaps an economic superman, to address the woes of the country just as he had done on the box.
He must have salivated wildly at the thought that now he could perhaps have some actual effect and even see ideas implemented. He should have noted very clearly, however, that a well-liked, Dáil veteran of 28 years and potential party leader in the figure of Richard Bruton held the position already. George Lee was as likely to get it as a stray dog pulled in off the kerb on Kildare Street.
There is a set route to power in Irish political life and indeed every political scene. Best to start with a dynasty, this affords one a good head start. For most, a stint on a local council is the best place to learn the ropes. Keep the local party officials onside, build a coven in a given area and get yourself plenty of coverage in the local press.
Depending on your success, a trip to Dublin on the party ticket might be in order. But achieving this difficult task only earns one the right to sit on the backbenches, or maybe languish is a better term. To expect to parachute directly into the driving seat almost through the action of a reverse ejector seat is almost laughable.
The effect of Lee’s departure will be a fascinating spectacle, as 27,000 people are disenfranchised by his departure. He said in a statement that he could achieve nothing as an independent. What he has basically inferred is that the people of the constituency should not elect a Fine Galer or an independent if they want to have anything done for them. I am rubbing my hands in anticipation of how the Fine Gael party will deal with it.
While I feel Lee has been petulant, his actions have shaken up politics in a very delicious way. In a way the party political system has had its pants pulled down. I am fairly sure that there are a good number of politicians who are going to be quite offended by Lee’s behaviour. They will say that he doesn’t understand how politics works and that, ultimately, he was an outsider who had no place getting involved.
But for us observers it is a fascinating insight into how those who govern us function. Their secretive world is laid just a little bit bare by this incident. The horse-trading that constitutes everyday life in Irish politics is shown to us clearly by Lee’s departure and it’s not the prettiest sight in the world.
I must admit that my own reaction upon reading the news was that he had behaved like a spoiled child and that he was not aware of the way politics worked but the more I think about it, the more I am coming round. I have met many people who have stayed in politics over the years, on the backbenches, trying their hardest to bring about change and having little success. They may be there because their current party leader doesn’t consider them able enough or, more likely, because they are not in their leader’s inner circle.
They may also not be part of another internal party gang and receive a position to placate their chosen man or woman. The best man or woman for the job doesn’t seem to be an issue when plum roles in government or positions as opposition spokespersons are being handed out and that has implications for every voter in the country.
It is an open secret that what a constituency needs is a minister at the cabinet table or, in the case of South Kerry, with its roads like runways, a man with a vital vote and a list of demands. Those hard-working backbenchers mentioned above might be frustrated at the lack of change they bring about but, unlike Mr Lee, they do not have a job in RTÉ to go back to if their adventures in politics don’t live up to their expectations.