New workers party in Ireland?

[bolshevik]

Joe Higgins in interview with the Irish Times:

“The intention is to form a party, but I don’t want people to think it’s going to happen tomorrow morning because there is a process here. We will discuss with supporters and activists about the next step.” (http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0228/1224291015357.html)

[C. Flower]

Joe Higgins in interview with the Irish Times:

“The intention is to form a party, but I don’t want people to think it’s going to happen tomorrow morning because there is a process here. We will discuss with supporters and activists about the next step.” (http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0228/1224291015357.html)

It's long been the SP's policy to from a Mass Party - but whether or not the SP would liquidate into it is hard to tell.

We chewed on that a lot here over the last year -

http://www.politicalworld.org/showthread.php?t=1253&page=3

[bolshevik]

I think the difference is in the immediacy of how it is being posed. I heard Higgins on the radio talking about it and it was quite different from how the SP have posed it previously as an aim for the future rather than as a more-or-less certain development in the immediate future.

Of course whether this would be a real party or just a federated lash-up and how much discussion on programme will be allowed are other important questions.

Can anyone from the SP (or SWP) shed any light on any of this?

[C. Flower]

I think the difference is in the immediacy of how it is being posed. I heard Higgins on the radio talking about it and it was quite different from how the SP have posed it previously as an aim for the future rather than as a more-or-less certain development in the immediate future.

Of course whether this would be a real party or just a federated lash-up and how much discussion on programme will be allowed are other important questions.

Can anyone from the SP (or SWP) shed any light on any of this?

Yes, I think it was also mentioned just before the general election.

I still struggle to see why a political party would launch a political party.

[bolshevik]

I still struggle to see why a political party would launch a political party.

Well I guess it is because, despite their names, neither the SP or SWP actually see themselves as a "Party" - rather they perhaps see themselves, correctly in my view, as small propaganda groups.

[Sam Lord]

I still struggle to see why a political party would launch a political party.

It's to put some clear water between themselves and "socialism". I bet that word won't be in the title. You are thinking of the cause of the working class but this is all to do with seats in the Dail. It will be new Labour - Irish style.

[Griska]

It's to put some clear water between themselves and "socialism". I bet that word won't be in the title. You are thinking of the cause of the working class but this is all to do with seats in the Dail. It will be new Labour - Irish style.

Yes. "People Before Profit" sounds attractive to everyone.
Like "Food Before Starvation", or "Medicine Before Death".
Nobody can really argue with these names.

[Apjp]

It's to put some clear water between themselves and "socialism". I bet that word won't be in the title. You are thinking of the cause of the working class but this is all to do with seats in the Dail. It will be new Labour - Irish style.

Im still betting they will have no economic policies whether they are closer to labour or the old bolshevik party in russia.