A warning to Labour - if you want change, think

[simonj]

An FG and Labour coalition looks on the cards, but the Labour parlamentary party should listen carefully, very carefully, to their grass roots.
With FG set to continue FF policies on the ECB/IMF/Bank fiasco Labour are on thin ice.

It is no surprise to me that FG should do this, being one of two cheeks of the same arse as FF.
In point of fact, with 20 seats and little in the way of policy or moral difference, it could be quite possible for FG to do a deal with FF, a recipricol Tallaght accord if you will

Yes, it is important to be in Government and affect positive change, but Labour should not help FG to sell off or privatise public services.

Ireland is not the UK, and as we saw with the Eircom debacle, privitisation in such a small country has a high rate of failure, and room for corruption.

It is quite possible to support legislation that is to the benefit of the country while in opposition, but retain the independence that the Greens and PDs lost as junior coalition partners.

But then again, the main leadership of the party is ex democratic left and workers party, having gone from perhaps 5 seats to taking over the labour party and now having 37 seats, the attraction of weilding power for people like Gilmore and Rabbite may be too much to resist.

As well as that it seems Labour are falling further into dynastic habits with Sean Sherlock and Arthur Spring being returned.

[Dr. FIVE]

If there was any doubt about the parties intentions, they were on open display the week of the finance bill.

Today will be a missed opportunity to change Irish politics somewhat, more then they will do from govt benches.

[simonj]

Well, the good news was that several outstanding independents were elected, two of whom we endorsed - but as I said here and on the blog before, the electorial reforms proposed by FG and Labour do not go far enough.

Personally, if I were still involved in Labour, I'd say let FG talk with FF and come to an arrangement, it should not be so hard for them to come to terms, and become a stronger body in opposition.

[morticia]

Tactically, that might be the best move...for them, politically. I'd personally prefer them in Govt with FG, wrestling to keep their mucky hands off the kids allowance.

The SBP also makes the point that many of their ministerial hopefuls are a tad long in the tooth and that this may be their best change to leave a mark on things.

We shall see. Looks like it's a done deal now, anyway.

[barrym]

Correct, they should have thought, it's too late to think. It's head in the trough time, Gilmore more or less admitted on 6.1 that there is no EU re-negotiation, Inda said we need to remove the suspicion in Europe. What do we get? a set of wishy washy compromises, such as a 're-examination of USC' and nothing, as one delegate at the Labour meeting said, on banking and the bankers. No, we are in for 5 years where we'll be dependent on FF, SF and sundry other Fs to ask the questions and maybe get some answers, with an almost 40 seat majority, how much notice do you think will be taken of the Dail??

Note also, some rethink on Mins salaries, none on TDs; vague proposals to look at political reform.... sorry lads, its back to same as usual politics. Thinking has been postponed, maybe even outlawed.

[morticia]

Note also, some rethink on Mins salaries, none on TDs; vague proposals to look at political reform.... sorry lads, its back to same as usual politics. Thinking has been postponed, maybe even outlawed.

Yurp. Auughh. If Labour doesn't behave, will have to consider supporting SF....a big step, for a Protestant..

[Griska]

Labour, as far as I can recall never promised to reduce TD salaries. I remember Rabbitte on V. Browne some months ago stating minister's salaries were too high, but not TD's.

I thought earlier in the week that the deal wouldn't happen.
Oh well.
Young Pearse should begin planning how his Sinn Fein behave as the main party of the left.

[simonj]

Yurp. Auughh. If Labour doesn't behave, will have to consider supporting SF....a big step, for a Protestant..

Well, Hyde, Emmet, Tone et al spring to mind, but as a secularist religion comes second to community

[Buddha]

Okay, I came from Workers' Party, to New Agenda, to Democratic Left to Labour. I recall the shock of merging with Labour. I voted against it. But DL was broke and De Rossa was tired of struggling and fighting off the young (ish) bloods. I followed the job basically. Although I have always loved my fellow secretaries, no matter what party, I realised almost immediately that I came from a different value system. I'm not saying a better one, but a different one. And I never felt easy about the merge.

I tried to vote Sinn Féin this time round. I have huge admiration for Ruane, and I'm madly in love with Pearse Doherty, but as someone who has nightmares if I step on a cockroach, I could not do it. Even though I appreciate the irony of having been a member of the WP, but by the time I joined, the killing had ceased. I will have to work hard now to accept that Sinn Féin are the only party that truly represents my political values. But it's hard for me. I talked my family into voting for them, but I could not. I don't know why. Help!

[Griska]

Okay, I came from Workers' Party, to New Agenda, to Democratic Left to Labour. I recall the shock of merging with Labour. I voted against it. But DL was broke and De Rossa was tired of struggling and fighting off the young (ish) bloods. I followed the job basically. Although I have always loved my fellow secretaries, no matter what party, I realised almost immediately that I came from a different value system. I'm not saying a better one, but a different one. And I never felt easy about the merge.

I tried to vote Sinn Féin this time round. I have huge admiration for Ruane, and I'm madly in love with Pearse Doherty, but as someone who has nightmares if I step on a cockroach, I could not do it. Even though I appreciate the irony of having been a member of the WP, but by the time I joined, the killing had ceased. I will have to work hard now to accept that Sinn Féin are the only party that truly represents my political values. But it's hard for me. I talked my family into voting for them, but I could not. I don't know why. Help!

I'm also ex-Stickie, Buddha. I have memories of being chased from Shinners doors while canvassing in the '80's. I also have memories of the ridiculous "drug huts" instigated by them in the area I grew up in, where men would keep an eye out for .............. dunno DRUG STUFF, I suppose.

But my main issue with them these days is that while they talk the talk in the South, they haven't shown much socialism in the North. They've gone along with outragious cuts up there.

[Buddha]

I'm also ex-Stickie, Buddha. I have memories of being chased from Shinners doors while canvassing in the '80's. I also have memories of the ridiculous "drug huts" instigated by them in the area I grew up in, where men would keep an eye out for .............. dunno DRUG STUFF, I suppose.

But my main issue with them these days is that while they talk the talk in the South, they haven't shown much socialism in the North. They've gone along with outragious cuts up there.

Too right Griska. Chatting to a friend of mine in Norn Iron I was quite shocked at the cuts, huge in education and health. I was told by a Shinner that they don't have the luxery of choosing where to get their money from, but I thought they could have put up a better fight. Perhaps they did, I don't know.

You know what Griska, I am starting to think that all politicians should be called "gang members". It would be a bit more honest, and hey, they might even have a code of honour. (titter)