DEAR SIR: As the Fine Gael leadership contest heats up, it seems incredible how so many Fine Gael politicians deserted Simon Coveney to jump on what could be described as the populist Leo bandwagon.

Since so many rural TDs in particular have done so, it would lead one to believe that it is based on a self-serving political move on their part to enhance their personal advancement. A case of backing the perceived winner above all else.

As a non Fine Gaeler, I considered it to be extremely demoralising and demeaning for Simon Coveney that it has turned out this way for him. To his credit, Minister Simon Harris has been prepared to put his political advancement on the line by supporting Simon Coveney, unlike the rest of his cabinet colleagues and junior ministers.

One wonders why they have been so drawn to Leo Varadkar. It certainly can’t be based on his achievements as he has failed on a number of fronts.

During his tenure as Minister for Health, he broke commitments, missed his own targets and adjudicated over a botched staff recruitment scheme along with his failure to stem the escalating trolley crisis in hospitals. On that front, his only contribution was the daft idea of fining hospitals for having people on trolleys for longer than nine hours.

It appears that despite his many failures, he is still able to command positive media coverage that other politicians can only dream of. No matter what calamity has come his way, he seems to have an uncanny way of passing himself off as a mere commentator and innocent bystander in absolving himself of all faults and gets away with it.

Is this the type of bungling Taoiseach we need at this critical time for Ireland? I should think not.