Simon Harris and his team got up early in the morning to hatch a ‘shock and awe’ leadership plan

Simon Harris looks set to become the next Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach after the shock resignation of Leo Varadkar. Photograph: Collins

Simon Harris on cusp of becoming next Fine Gael leader as McEntee, Donohoe and Humphreys rule themselves outdramatically ruled herself out, saying she decided last year if an immediate vacancy arose she would wait it out. When asked who she would be backing, she declined to say. By 8:20am, Harris was halfway to securing that magic number of six signatures to get himself into the race. A half an hour after this he officially became the first leadership candidate to garner those key signatures after getting the backing of Senators Michael Conway and Micheal Cariggy as well MEP Maria Walsh.

With every new announcement and endorsement, the pitch became that bit harder to play for Donohoe and Humphreys.

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