‘Left-wing swing can harness new force’

THE force behind the People Before Profit Alliance, Richard Boyd Barrett, has said the left-wing swing in the local elections can be a springboard for a new political movement.

Across the country almost one in five people backed a candidate outside the main political parties.

This is on top of the 15.7% of support the Labour Party secured in the local elections and its exceptionally good result in Dublin.

Labour leader Eamon Gilmore hailed it as its best local election result.

While the non-mainstream vote included out-of-party Progressive Democrats and rebel Fianna Fáil candidates, the bulk was made up of community activists and interest groups.

The PBP Alliance won five council seats in three Dublin local authorities, including one for Mr Boyd Barrett, crowning significant victories for left-wing groups nationally.

There were gains for independents in Meath and in Sligo, where campaigners for the retention of cancer services took seats from Fianna Fáil.

In Dublin, independent by-election candidate Maureen O’Sullivan scored a stunning victory and Socialist Party leader Joe Higgins polled impressively in the city’s European elections.

Mr Higgins’ party won three council seats in Dublin and in Cork city Mick Barry was elected on the first count.

The Socialist Party’s ability to hold seats in Dublin was impressive given that in 2004 it received disproportionate benefit from the anti-bin tax campaign, which was ongoing.

Separately, Damien Farrell was elected under the banner of Independent TD Finian McGrath in Dublin.

Sinn Féin, while suffering in Dublin, made gains in Limerick.

In Leitrim Sinn Féin held two seats, as did a pair of independents.

Mr Boyd Barrett said if the swell of support behind alternative candidates could be harnessed there is potential for a national alliance which could become a force in the Dáil.

“People Before Profit is our attempt to bring principled left-wing political groups together in a way that people understand and we are open to discussions with other groups.

“Although it is modest, what we have achieved in winning five seats shows there is a brand of left-wing politics there and it is possible to create a new model.

“We want to build quickly on that and if we can do that we are in a position to win half a dozen seats and become a significant force in the Dáil,” he said.

In Fingal County Council in north Dublin, traditionally a FG and Fianna Fáil stronghold, a further swing to the left has emerged, with 16 of the 33 seats in the area under the control of left-leaning parties.

Speaking after the gains, Mr Higgins, who was also elected in Castleknock, said the result signalled a new dawn in Irish politics.

“It’s clear that working people and unemployed people and pensioners are taking their revenge on Fianna Fáil and the Green party for saddling them with the burden of a jobs crisis and a crash that Fianna Fáil’s economy caused, that those people had absolutely nothing to do with.

“People haven’t just voted for establishment parties in opposition to the Government, they’ve also voted for the left in increasing numbers showing the search for an alternative economic and social policy,” he said.