Killian Forde confirms to Politics.ie that he has resigned from Sinn Fein

[David Cochrane]

Statement from Sinn Fein just in....

Sinn Féin comment on resignation of Councillor Killian Forde

Commenting on the resignation from Sinn Féin of Dublin City Councillor Killian Forde, Dublin Sinn Féin Chairperson Eoin Ó Broin said the resignation was a disappointment and that the Donaghmede Councillor was elected on a Sinn Féin policy platform and he should now do the honourable thing by resigning his seat to allow a Sinn Féin co-option.

Saying that it had become clear in recent times that Killian Forde was in the wrong party Eoin Ó Broin stated:

"This was most graphically illustrated at the December meeting of Dublin City Council when Killian Forde, in defiance of a democratically agreed Sinn Féin position, voted in favour of the Council Estimates for 2010 which imposed new refuse charges on 40,000 low income households.

"Dublin Sinn Féin was vehemently opposed to Estimates which included a charge for those who had qualified for a refuse charge waiver - effectively the most vulnerable sections of society in our city.

"Sinn Féin makes no apology for defending public services and for standing by ordinary people who, by facing hikes on local charges and the decimation of public services, are being scape-goated for an economic crisis in which they played no hand, act or part.

“Sinn Féin is an activist, campaigning party that puts policies before personalities. It is not a platform for careerist politicians.

"Killian Forde clearly has problems with this position and with the politics of Sinn Féin. It has become increasingly obvious that Councillor Forde is in the wrong political party.

"Killian Forde was elected on a Sinn Féin policy platform and he should now do the honourable thing by those who elected him, by the pledge he signed prior to the election and immediately resign his seat to allow the co-option of a new Sinn Féin Councillor for the Donaghmede ward."

[Trans-Siberian]

How many Dublin city Councillors have left SF now ? to lose one is unfortunate but to lose 3.............................well that would suggest all is not well

I would not rate Killian Forde as highly as a public rep as some on htis thread would.( nothing against the guy personally).That would be my opinion based on observation and personal experience of him.

So he leaves for another party.Lets wait and see how he rises politically in any new party.

Whats worrying is that had Mary Lou retained her European seat and subsequently been elected to the Dail, then SF would of sent Killian to Europe.What does that say about the quality of judgement that exists at present in the SF leadership.

This issue goes right to the heart of the problems facing SF today.I dont want to be to critical but for the fist time in a generation leadership is not been shown within the party.

[mmrebel]

This issue goes right to the heart of the problems facing SF today.I dont want to be to critical but for the fist time in a generation leadership is not been shown within the party.

In fairness ye have always been bereft of leadership in the south when Ferris jnr gets elected or if Brian Stanley gets elected that might change once none are carbon copies of Mary Lou.

[jdaly]

Mind you constituency members of whichever party usually get to ear bash their local reps ears once in a while but i don't think that is the case here , Mary Lou is Gerrys man in Dublin.
She was a member of FF is it a case she is the Manchurian candidate and destroying from within

Mary Lou is gerry's MAN in Dublin? Do you know something we dont?

[mmrebel]

Mary Lou is gerry's MAN in Dublin? Do you know something we dont?

freudian slip im sure .................

[Trans-Siberian]

In fairness ye have always been bereft of leadership in the south when Ferris jnr gets elected or if Brian Stanley gets elected that might change once none are carbon copies of Mary Lou.

The people with the leadership qualities are there.The transition needs to happen if SF are to truly grow in the South.SF have certainly organisational difficulties in Dublin ( as do FF ) but its the historic tranistion from north to south which is causing the biggest problem.

[mmrebel]

The people with the leadership qualities are there.The transition needs to happen if SF are to truly grow in the South.SF have certainly organisational difficulties in Dublin ( as do FF ) but its the historic tranistion from north to south which is causing the biggest problem.

There are serious difficulties in Cork too , now im not being smart but what people are there with the leadership qualities on a visible national level that can transcend the 32 counties ?

[Trans-Siberian]

There are serious difficulties in Cork too , now im not being smart but what people are there with the leadership qualities on a visible national level that can transcend the 32 counties ?

Well is that not the problem,potential leaders are not been given that visible national exposure.Belfast makes the rules and if you dont like it tough.There is no one person that can transend SF fortunes overnight in the south but there are alot of young people with huge potential who could be groomed in a more productive way for that handover of power.

[mmrebel]

Well is that not the problem,potential leaders are not been given that visible national exposure.Belfast makes the rules and if you dont like it tough..

Well obviously you have hit the nail on the head the Northern Leadership are holding the Southern politicans back but what ya going to do is the biggy..................................

[Ceartgoleor]

Toireasa Ferris said herself they are in danger of becoming irrelevant in the Republic

I said it few years ago and everything that has happened since has proven it. There is a glass ceiling for "left of Labour" parties. Sinn Fein are simply going the same way as Democratic Left, The Workers Party, CnaP and National Labour. The only question is whether in the longer term they merge into Labour or if they stay as a separate entitity and become a micro-party.

SF's vote is collapsing in Dublin and they are losing elected representatives. The next General Election is key. If they cannot get at least two seats in Dublin, with the swing against the government, then it's only a matter of time before they fade away.

+ 2
The best contribution on this thread tonight, IMO.

I dont understand how can SF be so dumb not to see the cul de sac that their left wing ideology is leading them into. It can only lead to a 'stickey' end.

Killian Forde obviously is one of the more intelligent members. The nationalist V socialist ideological split has to be tackled one way or the other. SF cant ride these two horses at the same time. It may have been OK when the war was going on but post-war, direction and leadership has to be given. There is an idealogical struggle for the soul of the party and this is behind all the resignations to date left and right.

SF are at the cross roads. They have a choice, left, a cul-de-sac and a straight jacket delineated by the bourgeois homes of the Labour Party or right, to open country where everything is possible.