Labour pains and an alternative to austerity

‘The realistic possibility of achieving a Left government requires co-operative action in government between Sinn Féin and Labour, and with other elements of the Left if possible.’

TALKING to her local Northside People newspaper, former Minister of State and Dublin North-West TD Róisín Shortall has refused to rule out an early heave against the Labour Party leadership in 2013 but An Phoblacht columnist Eoin Ó Murchú says the Labour Left needs to look for allies and a programme.

Writing in the January issue of An Phoblacht, seasoned labour movement observer Ó Murchú says:

“The realistic possibility of achieving a Left government that would pursue a radically different path from the right-wing programmes we have endured since this state’s limited independence requires co-operative action in government between Sinn Féin and Labour, and with other elements of the Left if possible.”

Labour rebels, he says, must offer a complete programme “not just snipe at the worst, isolated bits” of the Fine Gael/Labour Government austerity policies.

Róisín Shortall described to the Northside People how there is a lot of dissatisfaction within the Labour Party about how it is being run and there is “a desire for a change of direction . . . but we haven’t got to the point of a heave just yet” before adding:

“I’m not ruling anything out. Anything’s possible at this stage.”

• You can read the full article by Eoin Ó Murchú in the January edition of An Phoblacht, on sale in shops from Friday or by subscribing online.