Pat Rabbitte confirms it: coalition deals weaken the Left

national | worker & community struggles and protests | news report Monday April 03, 2006 23:03 by FG - CIL

The Labour Party Conference on Saturday, and Pat Rabbitte’s statements, confirmed the need for a new independent party of working people as advocated by the Campaign for an Independent Left

Pat Rabitte is moving closer to Fine Gael every day. This weekend he went so far as to attack trade unionists fighting the outsourcing of driving tests, and to demand concessions and ‘modernisation’ (Blair speak for worse conditions) in the public sector.

The Labour Party wants no higher tax rates on the rich and Capital Gains Tax can stay halved. The message of ‘value for money’ and ‘waste avoidance’, rather than radical new investment in the public services, especially the health service, echoes that same message from Enda Kenny and Mary Harney. There is not a word about a reversal of the privatisation of Aer Lingus if Labour was in government.

Pat Rabbitte claims that public sector workers have not up to now given a quid pro quo for Benchmarking rises. Public sector workers, and their union representatives, should write to Pat Rabbitte today listing exactly what new work has been required of them to get the Benchmarking rises. We ask Pat Rabitte to tell us what HE has given for the Benchmarking rise he received?

His weekend statements come on the heels of his divisive and opportunistic suggestion that work permits for immigrant workers might be an answer to displacement and exploitation in the workplace.

One likely outcome of the next General Election is that neither Fianna Fáil-PDs nor Fine Gael-Labour will have enough TDs to form a stable government.

This means they will look to others for support: the Greens, Independents and possibly Sinn Féin. These forces are looking to “hold the balance of power”. They believe they can implement some of their policies by being in government, or by doing a deal on specific issues in exchange for supporting a particular government.

But the history of parties with a radical agenda entering coalition governments is disappointing. Has Labour brought about significant social change while in coalition? Or has it revived Fine Gael at the expense of becoming a serious force representing working people?

Notwithstanding local community deals – which are short-lived and have not challenged the root causes of inequality and poverty – coalition and deals with Independents have weakened the left. Every controversial vote compels all who support a government to choose: leftwing TDs have been and will be forced to support the rightwing policies of governments committed to the interests of big business. Opportunities to build a real alternative to Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have been and will be squandered.

This is a crucial issue for those who want change in our society. Should those with a radical agenda support governments which will continue the neoliberal assault on working people and allow Shannon to be used in Bush and Blair’s imperialist wars, in exchange for what will turn out to be minor concessions?

Instead of doing parliamentary deals with Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael, the left can work inside and outside the Dáil - building a real opposition and mobilising working people to achieve real change through their own struggle.
Séamus Healy TD and the Campaign for an Independent Left do not think that supporting Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael in government is the way to promote the interests of ordinary people.

The Campaign for an Independent Left will discuss this at its public meeting: ‘Can Coalition With Parties of the Right Bring Real Change?’ tomorrow, Tuesday April 4, at 8.00pm in the Teachers' Club, 36 Parnell Square, Dublin 1.

Speakers: Séamus Healy TD (Tipperary South) – CIL; Patricia McKenna (Green Party Dáil Candidate, Dublin Central); Paul Dillon (Labour Youth); Daithí Doolan (Dublin City Councillor, Sinn Féin). Chair: Harry Browne.