Labour in Partnership with SF

texas star

Whats going on I was just wondering how ,I gave my vote to Labour because they said they would never share power with SF. Am I in the dark because I believe them......Please explain as i dont get to read boards alot,im working.thanks

Just the usual political self interest coming into play and a hope that the hypocrisy of it won't be noticed.
It happens.
In another few years(probably a decade or two),I think, things like this will be less than an issue.

DadaKopf

It's the 'stickies', like Rabbitte who are pushing this. Others within Labour would want nothing to do with Sinn Féin.

At the same time, the political reality is that Sinn Féin absorbed some Labour votes from working class areas.

Personally, I feel that a party associated with nationalism (let alone terrorism) has no place in the Labour party, which is an international socialist party, not a nationalist (socialist) party. Nationalism has no place in left-wing politics, IMHO.

stovelid

DadaKopf wrote:

It's the 'stickies', like Rabbitte who are pushing this. Others within Labour would want nothing to do with Sinn Féin.
.

I would imagine most of those who originated from the WP wouldn't be favorably disposed toward SF either?

Jackie laughlin

Stovelid is correct. The former WP/DL members would be most opposed to SF/IRA. The most likely source of the dealing was the soft "St. Vincent dePaul" wing who want to believe that everyone is good.

FTA69

It's the 'stickies', like Rabbitte who are pushing this.

Not a chance, the Sticks wouldn't p*ss on the Provos if they were on fire; for once I agree with herself above, it's probably the left of Labour pushing it.

Personally, I feel that a party associated with nationalism (let alone terrorism) has no place in the Labour party,

Well they aren't looking to join are they? Rather open up a bit of cross-left cooperation. Besides, didn't Labour cooperate with Sinn Féin during the Tan War?

which is an international socialist party,

It is in its hole "international socialist", its a watered-down centrist party tied to Fine Gael occasionally espousing social democratic policies. They pledged not to even raise taxes, (which like SF's lunatic manifesto before the election) causes me to wonder how are they going to fund any social projects?

Nationalism has no place in left-wing politics, IMHO.

Nonsense, so I assume you believe James Connolly or Liam Mellows or Peader O'Donnell had no place in left-wing politics? To be honest it seems you are not actually espousing socialism, rather a hippy-dippy mix of liberalism and social democracy. Socialism has always confronted imperialism, and while a colonial situation exists it is inevitable that national liberation becomes part of the wider struggle. Just like it did in Vietnam, Ireland, Cuba, South Africa and countless other countries.

Jackie laughlin

I am a socialist who has joined the Labour Party for two reasons. Firstly, it is fundamentally socialist. Secondly, it is where Irish socialists congregate in largest numbers.

I agree that Labour should not be dealing with SF/IRA. It's bad enough dealing with FG and FF but talking to people with warm blood on their hands should be out of the question.

I'm very critical of Labour policy and tactics of late but in fairness no socialist party in the world at present is offering a coherent critique of neo liberalism. No, I haven't got anything like the answer either. The socialist project is being rewritten to try to address late capitalism. (Of course I don't mean Blairism or anything like it.)

Socialists have always had trouble understanding nationalism. The stock answer is that internationalism implies nationalism.

SF/IRA talk "socialist" when trying to con workers into voting for them but say "republican" or "nationalist" when fund-raising in the US.

I spent quite a lot of time trying to understand why James Connolly sacrificed the Citizen Army in support of the blood sacrifice nutters. It would make sense only if he believed that they could win!