17 April 1997 Edition
Election hots up
``Half these people can't f....ing write.''
This was the disgraceful comment about Sinn Féin election workers from the SDLP's Denis Haughey, candidate for Mid-Ulster. He let slip his remark to a reporter from a Sunday newspaper last week and exposed the attitude of many in his party to republicans and their electorate. He was clearly under pressure, aware that the campaign for Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness to reclaim the seat from Willie McCrea has now gained an unstoppable momentum. Nationalist voters now see clearly that McGuinness is the only real challenger who can end over 20 years of unionist misrepresentation of this predominantly nationalist constituency.
Such a victory would be a huge step forward for nationalists and a major boost to efforts to rebuild the peace process. Likewise the recapture of West Belfast by Gerry Adams and the gain of the new seat by Pat Doherty in West Tyrone would transform the political scene. These successes are within reach - but only if all the stops are pulled out in the last fortnight of the campaign. To work!
The decision by Dick Spring to rule out coalition with Fianna Fáil means that Labour, Fine Gael and Democratic Left will fight the general election on a common manifesto. It means also that Sinn Féin will be the only party of the left fighting the election on an independent platform.
Spring claimed that he has given voters the choice between centre left and centre right but the only choice he has offered is between two coalitions dominated by right-wing parties - FF/PD or FG/Lab/DL. It is all part of the rightward trend in politics generally which is seen all over Europe and is particularly glaring in Britain as Labour tries to out-Tory the Tories.
The general election in the 26 Counties - now expected towards the end of May - thus offers Sinn Féin the chance to advance. As a principled party committed first and foremost to representing its electorate and not scrambling for cabinet seats, Sinn Féin is the only real alternative to the coalitionist parties of the left who have betrayed their voters.
This was the disgraceful comment about Sinn Féin election workers from the SDLP's Denis Haughey, candidate for Mid-Ulster. He let slip his remark to a reporter from a Sunday newspaper last week and exposed the attitude of many in his party to republicans and their electorate. He was clearly under pressure, aware that the campaign for Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness to reclaim the seat from Willie McCrea has now gained an unstoppable momentum. Nationalist voters now see clearly that McGuinness is the only real challenger who can end over 20 years of unionist misrepresentation of this predominantly nationalist constituency.
Such a victory would be a huge step forward for nationalists and a major boost to efforts to rebuild the peace process. Likewise the recapture of West Belfast by Gerry Adams and the gain of the new seat by Pat Doherty in West Tyrone would transform the political scene. These successes are within reach - but only if all the stops are pulled out in the last fortnight of the campaign. To work!
Spring's choice - Sinn Féin's chance
The decision by Dick Spring to rule out coalition with Fianna Fáil means that Labour, Fine Gael and Democratic Left will fight the general election on a common manifesto. It means also that Sinn Féin will be the only party of the left fighting the election on an independent platform.
Spring claimed that he has given voters the choice between centre left and centre right but the only choice he has offered is between two coalitions dominated by right-wing parties - FF/PD or FG/Lab/DL. It is all part of the rightward trend in politics generally which is seen all over Europe and is particularly glaring in Britain as Labour tries to out-Tory the Tories.
The general election in the 26 Counties - now expected towards the end of May - thus offers Sinn Féin the chance to advance. As a principled party committed first and foremost to representing its electorate and not scrambling for cabinet seats, Sinn Féin is the only real alternative to the coalitionist parties of the left who have betrayed their voters.