The obvious difference between Irish and British party leader conference speeches is that the Irish versions are much shorter.

Which is, I have to say, (politely) somewhat counter-intuitive.

But Leo Varadkar’s speech to Fine Gael members the weekend before last didn’t come with the clarity that usually accompanies brevity.

What is Fine Gael’s animating purpose, apart from ‘not being Fianna Fail’? It’s never really been clear. For most of the Irish state’s existence, they have been the poor relations of the ‘Soldiers of Destiny’, but that’s all changed now, thanks to Leo.

“Eight years ago, the people of Ireland asked our party, Fine Gael, to take on the responsibility of Government,” he reminded everyone. “We should never forget how awful the situation was back then.”

But today, “because of our policies and your hard work,” everything has been “transformed,” he told party activists with his characteristic modesty (or lack thereof).

Wait a minute, though. Where was the mention of Enda Kenny? You remember him, sandy-haired and softly-spoken chap. Wasn’t he the Taoiseach who did all the heavy-lifting that Leo’s now claiming credit for? Alas for poor Enda, he was completely airbrushed out of the speech.

Planet Leo has a population of one.

Without wishing to deprecate him unfairly, the Taoiseach has an ego (even by the standards of most politicians) and clearly sees himself not only as a national saviour but as a personal brand.

But with an Irish election hovering into view over the next eighteen months and the confidence and supply arrangement with Fianna Fáil only guaranteed until the end of the year, Varadkar still struggled to outline a compelling narrative about what his party is for and who it represents.

In which regard, he reminds me of David Cameron, another liberal Tory who blended social and economic liberalism but was quite tone deaf to those struggling at the bottom.

I did notice Leo slyly pilfered Jeremy Corbyn’s line about being on the side “of the many, not the few.” (Who, in turn, nicked it from Tony Blair). Perhaps that’s who he’s modelling himself on?

It’s a claim that hardly rings true when you consider the homelessness and cost of living crises gripping Dublin, in particular.

And if everything was as rosy as he insisted (‘full employment, incomes up, taxes down…’), there wouldn’t have been the need for such pointed remarks about his opponents.

Despite propping up his administration, Fianna Fáil has “no ideas, no policies, no alternatives.”

That’s gratitude for you.

Meanwhile Sinn Féin has plenty of ideas and policies.  “Bad ones. Higher taxes, more borrowing, more debt.” Also, their values are “toxic” with a “culture of bullying” and “personalised aggression in the Dáil, and on those occasions when the mask slips.”

He added: “At some point between now and 2021,” he added ‘there will be a General Election.  And I can tell you tonight that under no circumstances will Fine Gael enter Government with Sinn Féin.’

As if to drum home the point, the version of the speech on the Fine Gael website has the word “no” bolded for added effect.

Personally, I found this all a bit graceless. “If they attack you, they fear you,” as the old saying goes.

Not to mention, it’s a silly hostage to fortune.

Despite Leo’s unfortunate cockiness, this was a speech from a Taoiseach who senses the sands are shifting beneath his feet.

Irish politics is slowly realigning. Sinn Féin has now firmly occupied the left flank of Irish politics, both north and south, supplanting both the SDLP and the Irish Labour Party.

Both Leo and Micheál can huff and puff about not entering government with the Shinners, but the likely arithmetic at the next general election means one of them will eventually blink and do a deal.