Liberal Leo?

The incessant praise surrounding Varadkar’s appointment to the office of Taoiseach is a study in modern identity politics gone very, very wrong.

That a 38 year old, half-Indian, openly gay man became Taoiseach made headlines internationally, and understandably so. Off the back of the successful marriage referendum, it seemed to follow a new and shocking trend of Catholic Ireland embracing diversity at speed.

The image of Varadkar as a progressive politician is rooted almost exclusively in his identity as a gay man of colour. Whilst on a representational level this is absolutely a step forward for Irish politics, in terms of policy it does not translate to any positive action. He has done nothing for the majority of Irish people of colour.

His history on race issues is hardly a shining example of inclusive politics.

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