Another SF Councillor going?

[Endoftheworldasweknowit]

Today's Wexford Echo claims that SF Councillor John Dwyer who lost his County Council seat last week but retained his New Ross Town Council has resigned from Sinn Fein.

Cllr Dwyer is presently out of the country on holidays and is reported on South East Radio to be releasing a statement on his political future later today. Sinn Fein lost all its seats on Wexford County Council in last week's local election

[Simbo67]

Cue shinner response of "although he was a long serving member, he was a b*stard and the party is better off down there without him"

[Lucan Lefty]

Cue shinner response of "although he was a long serving member, he was a b*stard and the party is better off down there without him"

Que FG response before the statement, if their is one.

[kerrynorth]

The Shinners clearly have a problem but the discussion to date on p.ie has generated more heat than light. Is it to with with the Northern leadership, economic policy, or whatever?

[Lucan Lefty]

The Shinners clearly have a problem but the discussion to date on p.ie has generated more heat than light. Is it to with with the Northern leadership, economic policy, or whatever?

Yes we are the only party with problems, yes.

[Pat Mc Larnon]

Cue shinner response of "although he was a long serving member, he was a b*stard and the party is better off down there without him"

If you are going to hector on predictability perhaps you didn't think very long before posting that.

[KingKane]

The Shinners clearly have a problem but the discussion to date on p.ie has generated more heat than light. Is it to with with the Northern leadership, economic policy, or whatever?

I suspect it is all of those things but the biggest problem is that SF were able to paper over the inconsistencies and cracks while they were moving forward. Once they stagnated (whisper it in case factual hears it but they have) over the last 5 years then the pressures within the party and it's various bases was always going to case problems. Down here SF had made their expansive by reaching into the solidly ideologically inclined left but in the north they are considerably more conservative on social matters. SF in chasing after the small business demographic, which they have eaten into up north, in '07 hurt their supporter and activist base down here. And since then they have realised that they have a problem but not been able to confront it.

[myk]

The Shinners clearly have a problem but the discussion to date on p.ie has generated more heat than light. Is it to with with the Northern leadership, economic policy, or whatever?

I think it is quite simply. Sinn Fein has been transitioning from a radical movement into a moderate mainstream party. People who were willing to make huge sacrifices (time and money) for their beliefs in the radical movement are less likely to do so as the party becomes more mainstream. This I believe is the reason why so many SF full-time councillors resigned their seats between 2004 and 2009.

I would also say that the same thing is happening with the Irish Green party, albeit at a different rate.

[oscail]

Yes we are the only party with problems, yes.

No need for the 'Whataboutery'..a legitimate question is being asked about Sinn Fein. Should all Sinn fein threads be entitled "This thread is about Sinn Fein except for when the questions get awkward"

[Pat Mc Larnon]

I suspect it is all of those things but the biggest problem is that SF were able to paper over the inconsistencies and cracks while they were moving forward. Once they stagnated (whisper it in case factual hears it but they have) over the last 5 years then the pressures within the party and it's various bases was always going to case problems. Down here SF had made their expansive by reaching into the solidly ideologically inclined left but in the north they are considerably more conservative on social matters. SF in chasing after the small business demographic, which they have eaten into up north, in '07 hurt their supporter and activist base down here. And since then they have realised that they have a problem but not been able to confront it.

Can you give an example or two of the northern membership being considerably more conservative on social issues than members in the 26 counties.