We don’t like the terms “left” and “right” here at FPP but often we have no choice but to use them – especially in anything to do with Irish politics, where there has never been a Taoiseach who could remotely describe themselves as “left” (as hard as Bertie tried).
Basically, the “Irish Left” may be an entity, but it has absolutely no unity. The Labour Party would consider themselves to the forefront, but in recent times they have drawn so close to the “establishment” ranks that they can at best be known as “centrist” now.
Which leaves The Socialist Party. And People Before Profit. And the Anti Austerity Alliance. And the Greens. And Sinn Féin, apparently. And a smattering of independents.
Then there’s the Social Democrats. For the purposes of this post we don’t want to concern ourselves with the circumstances behind Stephen Donnelly leaving the party (though if you are interested you can click here for the Indo’s take). The fact remains that they have been in existence for just over a year and had three quality TDs with a hope of gaining even more down the line. Now already one is gone.
Statement by the Social Democrats regarding the departure of Stephen Donnelly T.D.
Stephen Donnelly T.D. has informed us that he is leaving the Social Democrats.
We are disappointed that he has decided to walk away from the project, we undertook, to establish and build the Party.
The Executive Committee of the Party has reaffirmed its commitment to the vision of a strong economy, fair society and honest politics.
What an absolute shambles. These politicians should be working together not apart. In the Monty Python movie “The Life Of Brian” they made a joke about all the splinter movements like “The People’s Front of Judea” and the “Judean People’s Front”. The left wing of Irish politics is making that joke into a reality, and has done for years.
Until they find a way to come together with the common goal of breaking the Civil War Duopoly, making those two identical parties finally merge and offering a realistic alternative for the Irish people that prioritises things like health, education and housing over the continued widening of the income inequality gap, it will be “Politics As Usual” on this small island.
First Person Plural 