Mick Clifford: Are Sinn Féin, the Soc Dems and PBP turning left or just being left behind?

Right now, this country has never been more receptive to the idea of a left-wing government that doesn’t include Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael — but can the left in Irish politics get its act together to form a cohesive government?

National secretary Kieran Allen, TD Richard Boyd Barrett, and MLA Gerry Carroll as People Before Profit launched a document outlining the rationale for a left-wing government, which explicitly ruled out any coalition with Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael. Picture: Leah Farrell

Wherefore the left? On Thursday, People Before Profit launched its plan for a broad, left-wing government designed to take the reins of power after the next election. 

As of today, it is unclear whether People Before Profit will still be People Before Profit at the next election. Another known unknown is whether the people who front People Before Profit will have left to form another entity, such as the Non-Profit People’s Front, by the time of the election.