Blueshirt 'Labour' Leader criticises leading Trade Unionist Mick O' Reilly

by W.Gallagher Mon Mar 21, 2005 21:43

The only thing that really surprises me about the reaction of certain people to the current right-wing trend in the Labour Party is that they are somehow surprised at all. Since the foundation of the state Labour has been the perpetual prop to hold up a series of conservative (usually FG) administrations.

Has Labour in the Republic ever had a socialist of the stature of Nye Bevan or Tony Benn? Do they have one now? The truth is they were never left-wing. They are certainly not left-wing at the moment. And if you are one of those members of Labour Youth reading this who courageously voted against backing the European Constitution and has hopes of a lurch to the left I would be willing to take you on a bet that your party will never be the slightest bit left-wing.

I have read much of what Pat Rabbitte has had to say about the ‘Fair Economy’ and the ‘Fair Society’ and I cannot see the difference between the current Labour policy and that of Fine Gael, Fianna Fail or even – heaven forbid – the PD’s. Most of what Rabbitte speaks about concerns “fairness”, “justice” and “equality” and making the ‘market work for people’. These are completely vague statements that could be uttered by Harney, McCreevey, Kenny or de Rossa. In a recent interview with Rabbitte in ‘Village’ Vincent Browne put that point to the party leader and he did not sufficiently state what set Labour apart from the rest of the mainstream parties.

Anyhow, no point wasting our time on this subject – the hopes and aspirations of the left in Ireland do not rest with Rabbitte, de Rossa, McManus and company. And if they ever do we should be concerned.

by harry Tue Mar 22, 2005 12:21

O'Reilly has got to be criticised for still being a member of Labour. I don't have any respect for Labour members. Mick leave that party and then i'll listen to what you've to say.

by MG Tue Mar 22, 2005 14:14

After the by elections I read a few comments from Pat Bunny, but can't recall what paper it was in now. He was bemoaning the fact that some of the Meath electorate had decided to vote for the SF candidate as a 'protest' vote. Pat was making it quite clear that in no way did he view a vote for Labour as a 'protest' vote. Makes you wonder why he reckons anyone should bother their arse voting Labour in preference to FF.

by John Paul - SIPTU Tue Mar 22, 2005 20:38

Mick O'Reilly needs to wake up smell the coffee and break with Labour. The Labour party are a right wing party that are no different fundamentally to Fianna Fail or Fine Gael. Mick and the rest of the trade unions need sto split from the Labour Party as they do not represent the interests of thier membership. The political funds of the unions would be better spent on genuine left organisations and campaigns like the anti war movement, anti bin tax, anti racism as well as endorsing real left candidates in the elections like those in SP, SWP, ISN as well as independents like Seamus Healy etc. The Labour Party will only get into government ant attack workers by imlementing the same neo liberal policies as FF are, that's what happened last time and that's what's happening in the UK, Sweden, Germany, Spain....

by Dublin Exile Wed Mar 23, 2005 16:52

We've heard this 'Labour were never left wing' drivel for years. The Labour party are the only successful left wing party in this country as they are to only socialists who have ever managed to exercise power to act on behalf of ordinary people. Unfortunately for years they spent most of their time having to fight rearguard actions against the trots who have now thankfully fecked off to obscurity.

At least in the Labour party dissent is allowed, or at least it was before the whole place was handed over to Fat Pat and Lady Wicklow. Mick O Reilly has been a life long member of the party, unlike the current leadership, and I for one hope he stays on to see the party dump FP and LW after the next election. Under their leadership Labour are going nowhere fast. Its clear that Pats forte of theatrical Dail perfomances followed by G7T swilling sessions with the PDs in the Dail Bar, (or is it a Pavillion?) were not the requirements of a compentent and capable party leader.

Time for Howlin?

by W.Gallagher Wed Mar 23, 2005 21:13

“The Labour party are the only successful left wing party in this country as they are to only socialists who have ever managed to exercise power to act on behalf of ordinary people”.

That is quite true. They are a left-wing party who has been elected to serve in coalition government several times in recent decades to act on behalf of working-class people. The problem, my exiled friend, is that whenever they get into government they seem to develop some sort of political amnesia and completely forget about all of their supposedly left-wing policies and principles. You seem to think that this is due to them having to fight off opposition from “the Trots”. What a load of rubbish. I am certainly not a Trot so don’t think that I’m defending them. Although I would say that one Joe Higgins in the Dail is probably more effective than every single Labour TD combined.

Fine Gael/Labour and Fianna Fail/Labour coalitions were not leftist in their practices because the Labour Party was never a committed socialist party – adequately displayed a line by the former Party leader Brendan Corish (not an Stickie/DL member by the way): “First I am a Catholic, second an Irishman and third a trade unionist”.

A vote for Labour is a wasted vote. No point hoping for a turnaround that is not going to happen. There has to be a better vehicle than what is on offer. The left just needs to have the maturity to pull together to build it. The right certainly have no problem in doing so…