Former minister to confirm intentions tonight at party candidate selection conventionMairéad McGuinness linked to general election run as European Commission term runs out
His expected departure has prompted speculation about European Commissioner Mairéad McGuinness being approached to run in his place.
Mr English will become the 16th Fine Gael TD to depart ahead of the election. The former junior minister has been a TD since 2002. He resigned as a minister last year after it emerged he gave incorrect information in a planning application to build a one-off rural home.
The Fine Gael selection convention in Meath West takes place tonight after being postponed a fortnight ago. The party did not offer a coherent reason for the deferral, but it was believed to be down to the uncertainty over Mr English’s future.
Mr English will likely be replaced on the ticket by his parliamentary assistant, councillor Linda Nelson Murray from Navan. Another Navan councillor Yemi Adenuga will also contest the convention.
However, the departure of Mr English will place a doubt over Fine Gael’s ability to hold the seat. Hence, there have been suggestions of Ms McGuinness being asked to run. The former MEP did contest the general election in 2007 in the neighbouring Louth, but failed to get elected.
She campaigned with Fine Gael in the European elections and is tipped to again seek the party’s nomination for the presidential election next year.
Several Fine Gael sources say Mr English has done nothing to dispel the rumours about his intentions. “I think he’s going to pull the plug tonight,” a party source said.
Mr Harris has told the Fine Gael organisation to wind up its selection conventions by the end of next week. The timing has heightened anticipation of a November election.
However, Mr Harris says the Coalition will see out its term and Tánaiste Micheál Martin says the election will be in 2025.
Mr English is expected to be last of the sitting TDs to announce he won’t be running in the general election. He follows Richard Bruton, Leo Varadkar, John-Paul Phelan, Ciarán Cannon. David Stanton, Michael Creed, Josepha Madigan, Brendan Griffin, Charlie Flanagan, Fergus O’Dowd, Michael Ring and Paul Kehoe.
Eoghan Murphy resigned a year after the general election, while Joe Carey retired his seat last month. Joe McMcHugh lost the party whip and is stepping down too.
All told, 17 Fine Gael TDs elected in 2020 will not be running in the forthcoming general election.
Of the 56 election candidates picked by Fine Gael so far, 31 are neither TDs nor Senators.
Mr English and Fine Gael were contacted for comment.
