Workers' Party 434 votes, RSF 427 votes in West Belfast

[The Analyser]

Statement from Ruairí Ó Brádaigh, President Republican Sinn Féin.

Even the name of Republican Sinn Féin was suppressed by the Stormont régime’s electoral body and a compliant media followed suit.

Actually, Mr Brady, the same rules apply to everyone. So stop the whining and looking for excuses for your pathetic showing.

Our candidates were styled “Independents”, taking away our coherent strategy and sense of direction.

So you admit you have no coherent strategy or sense of direction. And it was all those nasty Brits who robbed you of it all. Clutching at straws, Rory, aren't you? But then with a result that the one you got, you have got to blame someone, don't you.

Although not registered as a “party” at Leinster House for 40 years, the media in the 26 Counties do not class Republican Sinn Féin candidates as “Independents”, but treat them as an organised body.

Only to have someone to laugh at. And how many seats has that media coverage won you in the Republic of Ireland? Oh yes. NONE.

For Republican Sinn Féin the task must be to build support . . .

With so few votes you can hardly go down further, can you, Mr Brady. So you have no choice but to build then.

Poor Ridiculous Sinn Féin - even they must be realising by now that they they are a pointless pimple on the arse of Ireland.

[chiffon rouge]

Maybe Ruairi Ó Brádaigh could take up Yogic Flying!

Or tantric sex?

[The Analyser]

Maybe Ruairi Ó Brádaigh could take up Yogic Flying!

Or tantric sex?

[beardyboy]

The problem with winning is that they are now expected to deliver - can SF progress the national interest working for English masters?

[merle haggard]

RSF should stop blaming everyone else for their own inadequacies. The way people associate candidates with parties is by building up the profile of those candidates in the areas they are standing for election.

I agree

[quote:2th16tqp]It is not the media's fault if a candidate does not have any profile in the area nor is it the media's fault if that lack of profile results in a poor vote tally.

I agree

RSF failed to gain more than 1% of the vote in any of the six constituencies that they stood in highlights the fact that even the huge disquiet over the provo acceptance of the PSNI was not enough to sway people to vote in any significant numbers towards RSF. Infact the final tally of all six candidates together would still not have been enough for them to be elected to one seat.

I agree

RSF members are now trying to claim that genuine Republicans had not registered to vote by choice and this is the reason for the poor showing. Peggy O Hara's credible vote in Foyle belies this for the spin that it is.

Actually I disagree on this point . Following Gary Donnellys credible showing in the council elections republicans in that constituency had made more of an effort to get people to register earlier than other areas . I canvassed for a candidate and neither myself and a few others canvassing with me had been registered in time . It was the same in other areas as far as I know .

The Anti PSNI and Anti Stormont vote was out there but RSF were simply incapable of harnessing them in any meaningful way

.

I agree again

Claims of media blackouts are interesting as if you look at the Saoirse/RSF website you will see that there was only one statement/report released by the candidates since the announcement of their manifesto a couple of weeks ago. If you dont promote yourselves how can you expect others to?

[/quote:2th16tqp]

Again I agree to an extent and those are fair points but also it cannot be denied that being prevented from putting your partys name on the ballot paper or even identifying the candidate as a republican is a definite handicap in any election . Its bound to have had a detrimental effect .

[factual]

John Lowry WP 434 Votes
Geraldine Taylor RSF 427 Votes


It's fascinating that after all the spin by Republican Sinn Fein on this board and with not one Stickie posting the Workers Party can still beat RSF.

Spin and lose, rather than Spin and Win?

This really is wonderful!

The whole election was an extremely powerful mandate for Sinn Féin's stragegy in the six counties, including with respect to the policing and the endorsement of the PSNI.

The dissidents put in a woeful performance.

[Bogwarrior]

Normally Padraig would lock like this and sends us to the "West Belfast results" thread, but as it's a gloating thread he's keeping it up.
Anyway, heres my take on things. The West Belfast result was a disgrace and an embarrassment, but no-one here is going to convince me there are only 427 anti-State Republicans in West Belfast. I feel RSF should've met with like minded Republicans and come up with an agreed candidate between the IRSP, 32csm, and non-aligned. I personally would've liked to have seen Brendan Hughes stand. He said he couldn't for health reasons, but I don't understand why you need good health to be an abstentionist candidate. Peggy O Hara is a 76 year old stroke victim who ¡s practically housebound. Fact is RSF are not well got in West Belfast, nor are the 32 csm for that matter, but an agreed unaligned candidate with the support of all could've done a lot better. FFS, even the Irps alone would toll more than 427, so it's fair to assume that many IRSP, 32's, and pissed off Provos just weren't sexed up by RSF. Not surprising considering RSF couldn't even attend the public meetings in Conway mill to discuss an alternative.

[Sammy Morse]

The dissidents put in a woeful performance.

1.2% to be precise.

FST is hardly our strongest constituency, and we still manged to beat RSF there.

[Trefor]

The dissidents put in a woeful performance.

1.2% to be precise.

FST is hardly our strongest constituency, and we still manged to beat RSF there.

What was the percentage vote of all the anti GFA & anti policing Republicans Sammy.

[factual]

The dissidents put in a woeful performance.

1.2% to be precise.

FST is hardly our strongest constituency, and we still manged to beat RSF there.