Thread by @KeithMillsD7

Thread 1/5
On it's own this is a small but embarrassing climbdown and it's not a major story, however it's a good reflection of the momentum that's going against @FineGael right now.

rte.ie/news/politics/…

2/5
@LeoVaradkar's long honeymoon is now over. The party is not delivering on public services, on financial prudence, on housing or on tax cuts. The way the Mercusor deal is being spun is pissing off farmers and this insensitivity to Catholics is just icing on the cake.

3/5
The very poor performance in Dublin in #le19 and #ep2019 and declining poll numbers have now made #ge19 a frightening prospect for @FineGael but losing four bye-elections in November is just as awful, if they delay a general election.

4/5
Meanwhile @MichealMartinTD only needs to sit it out and not make a major error or be seen to be too keen for an election.
It's becoming increasingly obvious that a May general election was @FineGael's best hope.
They would not have leaked as many votes to the Greens in a GE.

5/5
What's also becoming obvious is that @FineGael members got it right when they chose @simoncoveney as leader.
Coventry is better tuned into middle Ireland and @FineGael's traditional voter base.
He wouldn't have made such an awful gaffe, dizzied by a weekend of LGBT fawning.