Politics

Simon Harris set to be crowned new Fine Gael leader on Sunday

Party’s executive council has announced it moved the closing date for leadership nominations forward by one day

Simon Harris is the lone contender in race to become Fine Gael leader - after all of his fellow senior Fine Gael TDs announced that they did not want the role within 24 hours of Leo Varadkar’s shock exit. Picture: Brian Meade

Simon Harris is likely to be crowned Fine Gael leader before the week is out after the party decided to bring forward the deadline for leadership nominations by one day.

Following a meeting on Friday, the party’s executive council said that the closing date for nominations has been brought forward to 1pm on Sunday, March 24. The original deadline for nominees to declare their intention to contest the top party position was Monday March 25.