Sinn Féin on Killian Forde defection to Labour Party
dublin |
bin tax / household tax / water tax |
press release 
Monday January 11, 2010 00:44
by Makhno
Sinn Féin has confirmed that Killian Forde is to defect to the Labour Party on Monday and calls it a betrayal of Sinn Féin voters and Sinn Féin workers.
Defection of Cllr. Forde to Labour Party a betrayal of Sinn Féin voters and members
Sinn Féin has described the defection of Killian Forde to the Labour Party, taking with him a Sinn Féin Dublin City Council seat in Donaghmede, as a betrayal of Sinn Féin voters and members. It is understood that the defection will be announced tomorrow (Monday) in advance of the monthly meeting of Dublin City Council.
Mícheál Mac Donncha, Chairperson of Sinn Féin in the Donaghmede Ward, and a member of the party's Ard Chomhairle, said:
"Killian Forde was elected last June as a Sinn Féin Councillor, on a Sinn Féin policy platform, with the support of Sinn Féin activists in the local election constituency of Donaghmede. His candidature benefited from the support of the party locally and nationally. He stood before the people as a Sinn Féin candidate and received his mandate on that basis.
“While he, like anyone, is quite entitled to leave the party if he feels it is no longer the place for him, he has no right to take with him the City Council seat he won as a Sinn Féin candidate. His retention of this seat and defection with it to the Labour Party is a betrayal of Sinn Féin voters and members in the Donaghmede constituency, including activists who worked hard over eight years and two local government elections to elect and re-elect him.
"Killian Forde was elected as chairperson of the Council Finance Committee on the basis of his membership of the Sinn Féin group. It is clear now that Killian Forde's support for a Labour Party-sponsored City Council budget that imposes new charges on low income households in this City was a prelude to his defection to that party.
"Sinn Féin will continue to stand side by side with low income families in this City who have been hit by draconian budgets imposed by central and local government. Already Sinn Féin in the Donaghmede ward and in the Dublin North East constituency is moving on from this and we held a special meeting on Saturday to plan the way forward, developing the party and continuing to give principled and effective representation to people in this area and across Dublin."
Comments (6 of 6)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6Defection of Cllr. Forde to Labour Party an opportunist career move
January 11, 2010
Commenting on the ‘unveiling’ by Eamon Gilmore of Killian Forde as a Labour Party Councillor Mícheál Mac Donncha, Chairperson of Sinn Féin in the Donaghmede Ward, and a member of the party's Ard Chomhairle, said:
“Killian Forde’s resignation from Sinn Féin and defection to the Labour Party with a Sinn Féin seat can now be seen clearly for what it is – an opportunist career move.
“It is now obvious that Killian Forde’s vote for a Labour-sponsored City Council budget that penalises low income households was the second last act in a play that culminated in his move to the Labour Party. Having previously accused Sinn Féin of moving to the centre he is now in a party that he admits is to the right of Sinn Féin and that is preparing for coalition government with Fine Gael.
“Killian Forde has claimed that there is a lack of internal party democracy in Sinn Féin, yet he defied party democracy when he refused to abide by a democratic decision of the membership of Dublin Sinn Féin, which mandated the party’s City Councillors to vote against the 2010 estimates.
“In the very recent past Killian Forde has been highly critical of the Labour Party, often very personally, and especially during the Lisbon Treaty campaigns. No doubt he will find a home among those whom he himself has accused of opportunism.”
Earlier, Mícheál Mac Donncha had stated:
“Killian Forde was elected last June as a Sinn Féin Councillor, on a Sinn Féin policy platform, with the support of Sinn Féin activists in the local election constituency of Donaghmede. His candidature benefited from the support of the party locally and nationally. He stood before the people as a Sinn Féin candidate and received his mandate on that basis.
“Sinn Féin will continue to stand side by side with low income families in this City who have been hit by draconian budgets imposed by central and local government. Already Sinn Féin in the Donaghmede ward and in the Dublin North East constituency is moving on from this and we held a special meeting on Saturday to plan the way forward, developing the party and continuing to give principled and effective representation to people in this area and across Dublin.” ENDS
Killian forde is clearly a career politician and as such does not belong in a principled political party who cares for the weaker in society not to get votes but because it is the right thing to do. Good riddance I say. This country does not need yet another amoral slimy politician who will say anything to get votes. We need people who will stand up for principles. People like Forde are ten a penny in Fianna Fail / FG. / Labour. Let him slime off to where he belongs. The Irish people will (eventually!) get sick of people like that. Tiocfaidh ar la
"Killian forde is clearly a career politician and as such does not belong in a principled political party who cares for the weaker in society not to get votes but because it is the right thing to do."
Indeed, which is why he was in Sinn Féin to begin with!
No, he was in Sinn Feinn as a shortcut to jumpstart his slimy career in a party that was on the rise yet allowed him easy entry. He's clearly an ass. Sinn Feinn is one of the only parties left currently with a program for government which supports the poorer and weaker in society and does not support privatisation of our public services or the widescale adoption of PPP's.
Except for viewers in Northern Ireland, eh republican?
Care to explain Conor Murphy's proposals to privatise Translink in the 6 counties or Sinn Féin support for bin charges in Sligo, Waterford, Leitrim and Monaghan amongst others. You can call Killian all the slimely careerist politicians you like (as if Micky Brady in Newry, Caitriona Ruane and Billy Leonard are motivated solely by republican 'principles') and i'm sure you get great satisfaction from it, but might be about time you faced up to the very real political difficulties facing your own party. Keep telling yourself its all the fault of individual 'careerists' - wont be long before you're left with a rump in the south.
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