Sinn Fein peoples' views on a Labour-Sinn Fein alliance?

[ergo]

Fine Gael were in decline at the 2002 GE election - along comes Labour to revive them at it's own expense.

SF are now in decline in Dublin, along comes Labour.....................

Will they ever learn?

[factual]

I think co-operation is a good thing for both parties. The left in Ireland is not strong. Whatever hope it has through co-operation, it has next to no hope alone.

That's not to advocate a merger, as both parties are very different and have very different principles (and electoral catchment groups). But co-ordinated co-operation must be a positive thing.

Now that Sinn Fein have established themselves as being committed to exclusively democratic means, there is no "live" political barrier to making co-operation happen, so let's do it!

Sure some transfers (and even 1st preferences) might be lost, but some will be gained too, and in mean time it increases the capacity of both parties to hammer home messages on a whole variety of areas which successive centre-right governments in Ireland have been woefully deficient - social justice, equal opportunity, first-class healthcare for one and all, high-quality public transport, development aid and human rights, tackling the drug problem, ridding our communities of crime and anti-social-behaviour etc.

Good. Because in among all this party strategy we must not forget our ultimate goals of a fairer Ireland for the least well off and better public services for those living in deprived areas. By working together, Labour and Sinn Féin can push these issues up the political agenda. Together we can form a "block" that can negotiate strongly with a larger party because the large party has nowhere else to go. Separately we can only provide outside options for these large parties - cannibalising our ideals in the process.

[Cactus]

Personally I would certainly be in favour of at least Labour and the Greens joining together to form a larger party to actually challenge the Big 2. Too many small parties in Ireland I think. Unite the left and create a real alternative instead of all these small parties who basically all believe the same thing anyway.

Just my two cents on the matter.

[Worldbystorm]

Personally I would certainly be in favour of at least Labour and the Greens joining together to form a larger party to actually challenge the Big 2. Too many small parties in Ireland I think. Unite the left and create a real alternative instead of all these small parties who basically all believe the same thing anyway.

Just my two cents on the matter.

Frankly while I see the logic I don't think that previous mergers support that argument. The DSP and later DL mergers with Labour led to no increase in vote share or indeed overall seat numbers for Labour. I think the reason was/is that each formation addressed a different electoral grouping. Currently while there is a crossover Labour, SF and Greens address different niches. Combined I suspect they would actually lose support, so better to have perhaps a loose alliance or working agreement in order to maximise their vote share and perhaps an overt transfer pact as well.

[factual]

Personally I would certainly be in favour of at least Labour and the Greens joining together to form a larger party to actually challenge the Big 2. Too many small parties in Ireland I think. Unite the left and create a real alternative instead of all these small parties who basically all believe the same thing anyway.

Just my two cents on the matter.

Frankly while I see the logic I don't think that previous mergers support that argument. The DSP and later DL mergers with Labour led to no increase in vote share or indeed overall seat numbers for Labour. I think the reason was/is that each formation addressed a different electoral grouping. Currently while there is a crossover Labour, SF and Greens address different niches. Combined I suspect they would actually lose support, so better to have perhaps a loose alliance or working agreement in order to maximise their vote share and perhaps an overt transfer pact as well.

Superb idea.

[Worldbystorm]

Personally I would certainly be in favour of at least Labour and the Greens joining together to form a larger party to actually challenge the Big 2. Too many small parties in Ireland I think. Unite the left and create a real alternative instead of all these small parties who basically all believe the same thing anyway.

Just my two cents on the matter.

Frankly while I see the logic I don't think that previous mergers support that argument. The DSP and later DL mergers with Labour led to no increase in vote share or indeed overall seat numbers for Labour. I think the reason was/is that each formation addressed a different electoral grouping. Currently while there is a crossover Labour, SF and Greens address different niches. Combined I suspect they would actually lose support, so better to have perhaps a loose alliance or working agreement in order to maximise their vote share and perhaps an overt transfer pact as well.

Superb idea.

Thanks . Let's make sure it happens...

[Omega3]

Merging with the labour party is like putting cotton wool into a glass of water

[factual]

Merging with the labour party is like putting cotton wool into a glass of water

[ON THE ONE ROAD]

Merging with the labour party is like putting cotton wool into a glass of water

stupid

[factual]

Merging with the labour party is like putting cotton wool into a glass of water

stupid

So the point IS?