Felt he has been unable to put forward his opinions, and had been excluded from formulating FG economic policy.

Statement from George Lee TD.


I wish to announce that I have resigned from the Fine Gael Party and from my seat in Dáil Eireann today Monday 8th February 2010.

It has been a very difficult decision, but it is one that I have taken after a great deal of reflection on my position and on the role that I have been playing in Fine Gael since I
joined that Party in May last year.

The nine months since then have been a period of enormous economic upheaval. Throughout that period I have done my best to play a positive role in contributing to the national debate and to efforts to find a solution for many of the country’s economic problems.

The reality, however, is 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.

The role I have been playing within the party has been very limited and I have found this to be personally unfulfilling.

Doesn't say much for Enda's leadership qualities 

When I entered politics last May I made it clear that I was doing so because I wanted to try to play a new role contributing to economic policy formulation. After nine months of trying within the political system it is now my considered view that the role available to me within Fine Gael is not a role I am happy to play.

I would like thank most sincerely all those who campaigned for me, for all of their efforts and support. I would also like to thank my Secretarial and Parliamentary Assistants for all of the help and work that they have provided to me.

I particularly want to thank the electorate of Dublin South who voted for me in such large numbers last May. It has been a great privilege and an honour to serve on their behalf. However, I do not believe I would be serving the electorate honestly if I were to continue allowing my efforts and mandate to be used to promote and market economic policies into which I have had no input.

If that's true - then Kenny is finished.

Maybe Lee has his eyes on the soon to be vacated by C.Bird role in the US!

Understandably behind Richard Bruton in this area so why or how did he expect to be formulating policy straight away.

He obviously didn't see things that way

FG must call an EGM and have Lee reinstated to the party and to the Dail and try to work out some solution for Lee.

This shows more failures on Kenny who should step down as party leader.

I'm sorry but that just strikes me as a spoiled brat throwing a tantrum!  He's a big boy and should have known what he was getting into.

McCloud wrote: Think that will have a big knock on affect for Kenny. Very creless to lose someone of Lee's standing in the public's eyes. Pity a bit of a waste.

Well we all made the assumption that Lee was/is a very smart guy.  This proves to me that he isn't because anyone going into politics expecting to make a serious difference in nine months while in opposition isn't very smart after all. 

I think it's a disaster for Kenny - and for me his chances of being the next taoiseach are greatly reduced

McCloud wrote: Think that will have a big knock on affect for Kenny. Very creless to lose someone of Lee's standing in the public's eyes. Pity a bit of a waste.

FG have lost a gem in Lee, madness by Kenny and FG.

I would have assumed that he agreed to go forward for FG based on talks with the leader of FG? I'd guess Kenny promised Lee more than he could produce....