Sinn Fein Councillor Defects to CWI

[Coggeh]

Sinn Fein councillor Domhnall O Cobhthaigh today announced his resiganation from the party at a press conference in order to join the Socialist Party to “build a cross-community opposition to the right-wing economic policies of the Assembly Executive”.

Fermanagh Cllr Domhnall O Cobhthaigh who has served on Fermanagh District Council for the past two years claimed he could no longer remain in Sinn Fein as it was now part of an Assembly Executive which is “implementing cuts, job losses and privatising public services”.

Link : http://www.socialistparty.net/index.php/news/northern-ireland/232-cllr-domhnall-o-cobhthaigh-resigns-from-sinn-fein-to-join-the-socialist-party.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/8237808.stm

Good stuff .

[Zeus the Moose]

Interesting development, especially considering the number of SF councillors who have left their party already.

Is this the first time that the Socialist Party of Ireland had any sort of representation in the North?

[Coggeh]

Interesting development, especially considering the number of SF councillors who have left their party already.

Is this the first time that the Socialist Party of Ireland had any sort of representation in the North?
As an independant socialist party yes. However the seat will not go to the socialist party , it will remain with Sinn Fein . Though this puts a new light on proceedings of the left in the north.Its a huge blow to sinn fein to have someone leave for those reasons as steadily the leadership are pushing to the right and many people in SF are getting rapidily dismayed by the policies in the north with that also this is why it is a huge boost for the socialist party and other radical left organisations as we are now seen as a left nonsectarian alternative to SF.

[pastradamus]

As an independant socialist party yes. However the seat will not go to the socialist party , it will remain with Sinn Fein . Though this puts a new light on proceedings of the left in the north.Its a huge blow to sinn fein to have someone leave for those reasons as steadily the leadership are pushing to the right and many people in SF are getting rapidily dismayed by the policies in the north with that also this is why it is a huge boost for the socialist party and other radical left organisations as we are now seen as a left nonsectarian alternative to SF.

SF have the imagination of a door knob....Thats why he switched.

[Mephisto]

I think that is surely a good sign. Are there other revolutionary socialist organizations who benefitted from the right-wing course of SF, too?

[Eat the Rich]

Good stuff. This shows how honest reformist politicians can defect to Marxism in times of political and economic crisis. That is another reason for the orrientation to the mass organizations.

[Redmau5]

I think that is surely a good sign. Are there other revolutionary socialist organizations who benefitted from the right-wing course of SF, too?

éirígí is a republican socialist organisation that was set up in 2006, and quite a few Sinn Fein members have defected to éirígí in recent months after becoming disillusioned with Sinn Fein. This is the first "high-profile" defection from Sinn Fein to a non-republican socialist organisation in the North, that I'm aware of anyway.

[Crux]

That is another reason for the orrientation to the mass organizations.
Perhaps you ought to read Domhnall O Cobhthaigh statement on the Sinn Fein and he left precisly because it was no longer possible to work within Sinn Fein as a revolutionary socialist. But then again if you by "orientation towards the mass organizations" menas winning over the few genuine socialists still left in the ex-worker's parties in the struggle for new massparties worldwide, then I am with you.

[Crux]

UTV interview (http://www.u.tv/News/Councillor-leaves-Sinn-Fein-/38d935d5-c843-4d06-95cb-c809706362b6)

[MarkP]

Good stuff. This shows how honest reformist politicians can defect to Marxism in times of political and economic crisis. That is another reason for the orrientation to the mass organizations.

I'm not sure if I follow your argument here. How exactly is the move of a councillor from Sinn Fein to a socialist organisation which doesn't orient towards Sinn Fein (or towards the Labour Party) another reason for an "orientation to the mass organisations"?

[Crux]

Sinn Fein Keep Left's take on Domhnall O Cobhthaigh resignation is worth reading. (http://sinnfeinkeepleft.blogspot.com/2009_09_01_archive.html)

Especially his conclusion:
"These are some of the reasons I beleive Domhnall was wrong to leave the party, however i am aware that the concerns he has are real and I am aware that his analysis may prove to be correct if the left of the party does not organise and put forward coherent positions. The next two to three years will see if I am correct in my hopes for the party."

[Hoggy_RS]

Sinn Fein Keep Left's take on Domhnall O Cobhthaigh resignation is worth reading. (http://sinnfeinkeepleft.blogspot.com/2009_09_01_archive.html)

Especially his conclusion:
"These are some of the reasons I beleive Domhnall was wrong to leave the party, however i am aware that the concerns he has are real and I am aware that his analysis may prove to be correct if the left of the party does not organise and put forward coherent positions. The next two to three years will see if I am correct in my hopes for the party."

Sinn Fein may have many left wing members but the leadership of the party have no interest in socialism. O Cobhthaigh was right to leave even though i'm some what suprised he went to the socialist party.

[Crux]

Sinn Fein may have many left wing members but the leadership of the party have no interest in socialism. O Cobhthaigh was right to leave even though i'm some what suprised he went to the socialist party.
No disagreement there, which is why many more will most likely leave in the coming period as the party moves further to the right.
What's the alternative? I know some SF'ers have defected to éirígí, but with their explicit nationalist outlook I doubt they will be able to attract cross-community support.

[*Red*Alert]

Its a huge blow to sinn fein to have someone leave for those reasons as steadily the leadership are pushing to the right and many people in SF are getting rapidily dismayed by the policies in the north with that also this is why it is a huge boost for the socialist party and other radical left organisations as we are now seen as a left nonsectarian alternative to SF.

Admittedly this is a huge blow to the party, and shows how it is once again becoming a casualty to its continuing support for what is quite frankly a unstable Assembly which is only permitted to move in one direction: to the Right.

A large number of our party councillors and members are strongly Leftist, and a good deal of them would count themselves as Socialist, and I detest any attempt by some CWI people to slander the grassroots of Sinn Fein, as the caliber of individual activists is excellent and any political movement would envy the extent of the organisation and dedication of its members. However, I accept that there is a MAJOR problem with the leadership of the party.

The Sinn Fein Keep Left blog is an excellent site to watch the debate within the rank of the party and the inevitable conflict of those, like myself, who put greater emphasis on the Socialist aspect of Republican politics to those who put more emphasis on the more Nationalist side of Republicanism.

[*Red*Alert]

SF have the imagination of a door knob....Thats why he switched.
Now, now! :(

[Crux]

Admittedly this is a huge blow to the party, and shows how it is once again becoming a casualty to its continuing support for what is quite frankly a unstable Assembly which is only permitted to move in one direction: to the Right.

A large number of our party councillors and members are strongly Leftist, and a good deal of them would count themselves as Socialist, and I detest any attempt by some CWI people to slander the grassroots of Sinn Fein, as the caliber of individual activists is excellent and any political movement would envy the extent of the organisation and dedication of its members. However, I accept that there is a MAJOR problem with the leadership of the party.

While I can't claim to have much experience with Sinn Fein on a personal basis, I live in sweden after all, but even a SF-member like yourself is saying that Sinn Fein are probable to move even further to the right.
Where then for socialists still in the Sinn Fein? Especially if you wish to cut across the secterian divide.

[*Red*Alert]

While I can't claim to have much experience with Sinn Fein on a personal basis, I live in sweden after all, but even a SF-member like yourself is saying that Sinn Fein are probable to move even further to the rightand contnue to consolidate a secterian politics.
Where then for socialists still in the Sinn Fein?
As you can read in the Sinn Fein - Keep Left blog (http://sinnfeinkeepleft.blogspot.com/) there is hope that within the next three years the situations with the current Northern Assembly will improve through the devolution of powers from the British Government, which is currently restricting the ability of Sinn Fein to enact its policies.

Republicanism is not sectarian, and nor is Sinn Fein. We have members from both communities and we have several Councillors from the Presbyterian community who agree with and see a 32 County Socialist Republic as an inevitability. The IRA has ceased operations since 2005 and the only the Unionists are holding onto weapons and holding paramilitary displays (not reenactments.

The party has made many efforts to reach out to the opposing community, from the Orange Order to the DUP with limited success. It is not Sinn Fein's fault that they refuse to accept outreach and respond with the usual partisan jibes, which sadly, the party leadership and elected representatives on both sides play politics with.

The Leftists in the party have a duty to steer it to the Left, locally and nationally, by involving themselves in the party structures and partaking in the debate. On a local level, Sinn Fein is quite a radical party with many committed Socialists, Trade Unionists, and young people active on issues affecting the working class more than any other Leftist group, including the CWI and at the moment is uniquely placed to steer such campaigns as opposition to cutbacks and water charges due to the scale of its organisation, with a presence in all 32 Counties as opposed to the CWI's presence in probably about 10 counties.

Personally, I'm looking at my options, but regardless of what party I'm in, the Left in Ireland can go no where without co-operation with Sinn Fein.

[Coggeh]

Admittedly this is a huge blow to the party, and shows how it is once again becoming a casualty to its continuing support for what is quite frankly a unstable Assembly which is only permitted to move in one direction: to the Right.

A large number of our party councillors and members are strongly Leftist, and a good deal of them would count themselves as Socialist, and I detest any attempt by some CWI people to slander the grassroots of Sinn Fein, as the caliber of individual activists is excellent and any political movement would envy the extent of the organisation and dedication of its members. However, I accept that there is a MAJOR problem with the leadership of the party.

The Sinn Fein Keep Left blog is an excellent site to watch the debate within the rank of the party and the inevitable conflict of those, like myself, who put greater emphasis on the Socialist aspect of Republican politics to those who put more emphasis on the more Nationalist side of Republicanism.
Their is no debate that the grassroots of Sinn Fein are left wing , many of them are socialist but with that in mind they are members of a party which says one thing in the south along a leftist approach and a completely different thing in the north while their in government .Another problem is SF have been and still are open to being in coalition with either FF or FG . Which would see the same cost cutting implementing program in the South as they have in the north.

The left inside SF are steadily leaving because of this and rightly so . And their could be a new formation in the coming months or years of a democratic mass party built with organisations such as the CWI,SWP,EIRIGI,IRSP and others along with trade unions that would be able to unite all leftists and form a real alternative to to the neo-liberal agenda of the 3 big buisness parties (FG,Labour,FF)

[*Red*Alert]

The left inside SF are steadily leaving because of this and rightly so . And their could be a new formation in the coming months or years of a democratic mass party built with organisations such as the CWI,SWP,EIRIGI,IRSP and others along with trade unions that would be able to unite all leftists and form a real alternative to to the neo-liberal agenda of the 3 big buisness parties (FG,Labour,FF)

That's what I would like to see, as I see no benefit in individually competing for members when most of the above parties have broadly similar goals. The trouble with the Left in Ireland at the moment is that, to most young people starting out, its either Labour or Sinn Fein.

I chose Sinn Fein because Labour has a pathetic organisation locally, and is unashamedly right wing, and because the local Councillor (we now have 3) was a stalwart in helping local people and is committed to Socialism, albeit with a belief that national liberation and reunification of this country is necessary for it to become a reality (echoes of Cuba or Vietnam).

[Mephisto]

Would there good preconditions for such a project in Ireland? E.g. things like intensive debates between the several organizations, jointly performed political actions, shared experiences and so on. Because without that the good will to realize such political alliances may be big and honest, but the actual conditions to do so talk another language.

By the way: As USFI member in germany, I'd like to know how SD fits within the irish revolutionary left and if you would consider them a possible partner for such a project, too.