Leo Varadkar is an “awful example of wasted talent”, a leading political journalist has claimed. 

Last week, the Taoiseach took the Irish media and public by surprise when he announced his resignation. 

Speaking on The Pat Kenny Show, Daily Mail Group Editor John Lee described it as an “unprecedented departure” and a “huge let down for all his supporters”.  

“Dare I say it - and people might not like to hear this at this moment because we’re meant to clap these people on the back - [Leo Varadkar is] an awful example of wasted talent, a wasted career in many ways,” he said.  

“He has not explained why he is leaving. 

“Am I one of the few people watching politics these days that thinks that things like public service and loyalty [matter] to the people who not only worked and put up posters for you for the best part of 20 years but to the 455,000 people who voted for him?”

Despite this, Mr Lee said it had been clear for some time that Mr Varadkar had “given up on the job” and lacked the drive he had when first took office in 2017. 

“He came into office again in December 2022, he spoke of a huge war on child poverty - almost echoing the words of another great leader who resigned early, Lyndon Johnson, who actually did have a war on child poverty,” Mr Lee said. 

“What happened to that? 

“He had a big forum in Dublin Castle in January 2023 about housing… What happened to that? I haven’t heard a peep out of him on it.” 

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar at the Housing for All Quarterly update. Image: Leah Farrell/RollingNews

When it was put to him that Ministers themselves do most of the day-to-day announcements concerning their Departments, Mr Lee say the Taoiseach remains the most important figure in the Government. 

“He’s still the Taoiseach and every single problem in Cabinet, every single problem in Government comes to his desk,” he said. 

“He sets the tone, he sets the direction of the Government and he’s almost been absent.” 

The Cabinet in 2020. Picture by: Julien Behal Photography.

Announcing his resignation Mr Varadkar said he thought the current coalition Government could be re-elected and that a new Fine Gael leader would be “better placed than me to achieve that”.

He also said he was proud that under his leadership Ireland had become “a more equal and more modern place”. 

“We have made significant steps towards affordable childcare and universal healthcare, making access to both more affordable for more people,” he said. 

“We’ve made work pay better, with the phased implementation of a national Living Wage and statutory sick pay, lower personal taxes and improved family leave, allowing parents to spend more time with their children in those crucial early years.” 

As the only candidate to submit a nomination, Higher Education Minister Simon Harris became Fine Gael leader yesterday and is expected to be elected Taoiseach when the Dáil returns on April 9th.

Main image: Leo Varadkar speaking to journalists at the EU Leaders’ Summit in Brussels. Image: EU Consilium