Left and environmental candidates all but wiped out. Just over ½ voters bothered to go to the polls.
It was no surprise Sinn Fein would repeat their success in regional government, to become the
largest party at district council. The extent of their gain was. Sinn Fein gained almost 31% of the vote (+7.7%) The next largest party, the DUP stand at 23.3% (-0.8%). Sinn Fein hold 144 Council seats to the DUP 122. The moderate pro Union Alliance party hold 3rd place with 13%. The slow decline for the Ulster Unionist Party and the SDLP continues.
On the left the decline continued for the socialist left Nationalist Party the People Before Profit
(PBP). They have all but being wiped out, holding on to 1 seat in Belfast and Derry Councils. PBP hold
1% of the vote (-0.4). The Greens hold 1.7% of the vote (-0.4%). Anti Mining Councillors and
Socialist lost their seats.
The Sinn Fein advance continues. Since partition Sinn Fein now control the regional government at
Stormont and majority at local council level. The Unionist DUP boycott at Stormont prevents Sinn
Fein exercising power at regional level.
The Unionist parties remain split, with the largest DUP in crisis. The party fails to rejuvenate, since
being exposed as undermining the Union with Britain over Brexit; and also the fraudulent
squandering of public funding in the ‘cash for ash scandal’. Some prominent Unionists call for the
amalgamation of the Unionist parties.
It was no surprise Sinn Fein would repeat their success in regional government, to become the
largest party at district council. The extent of their gain was. Sinn Fein gained almost 31% of the vote (+7.7%) The next largest party, the DUP stand at 23.3% (-0.8%). Sinn Fein hold 144 Council seats to the DUP 122. The moderate pro Union Alliance party hold 3rd place with 13%. The slow decline for the Ulster Unionist Party and the SDLP continues.
On the left the decline continued for the socialist left Nationalist Party the People Before Profit
(PBP). They have all but being wiped out, holding on to 1 seat in Belfast and Derry Councils. PBP hold
1% of the vote (-0.4). The Greens hold 1.7% of the vote (-0.4%). Anti Mining Councillors and
Socialist lost their seats.
The Sinn Fein advance continues. Since partition Sinn Fein now control the regional government at
Stormont and majority at local council level. The Unionist DUP boycott at Stormont prevents Sinn
Fein exercising power at regional level.
This advance of Sinn Fein to the largest party in NI has unquestionably drawn from other Nationalist
parties, including the Socialist PBP. Hard line Catholic areas in Belfast and Derry moved significantly
to Sinn Fein as the Nationalist issue has in recent years taken a new significance. Sinn Fein now hold
majorities in the South and North of Ireland.
parties, including the Socialist PBP. Hard line Catholic areas in Belfast and Derry moved significantly
to Sinn Fein as the Nationalist issue has in recent years taken a new significance. Sinn Fein now hold
majorities in the South and North of Ireland.
The Unionist parties remain split, with the largest DUP in crisis. The party fails to rejuvenate, since
being exposed as undermining the Union with Britain over Brexit; and also the fraudulent
squandering of public funding in the ‘cash for ash scandal’. Some prominent Unionists call for the
amalgamation of the Unionist parties.
The small socialist and environment representatives on district councils over the years were
effective in exposing the Capitalist privatising agenda and mining Corporations planned precious
metal mining. Most councils will now be unhindered by opposition.
effective in exposing the Capitalist privatising agenda and mining Corporations planned precious
metal mining. Most councils will now be unhindered by opposition.
In this critical period of unprecedented public sector strikes and where 1 in 6 people in NI are on the
Consultants waiting lists, most people have lost confidence in both regional government and council
bodies to solve their cost of living crisis. It is little wonder people abandon elections.
Consultants waiting lists, most people have lost confidence in both regional government and council
bodies to solve their cost of living crisis. It is little wonder people abandon elections.
For left parties, it is not enough to dwell on the crisis working class people face. People seek a way
out of the crisis and no longer have the same belief in bourgeois institutions to solve them. Socialists
have to create the path which working class people can adhere and orientate towards. That path is
not an electoral strategy to these bourgeois institutions, but to build from the grass roots, workers
committees in factories and workplaces.
out of the crisis and no longer have the same belief in bourgeois institutions to solve them. Socialists
have to create the path which working class people can adhere and orientate towards. That path is
not an electoral strategy to these bourgeois institutions, but to build from the grass roots, workers
committees in factories and workplaces.
Time and again, small socialist electoral gains get knocked back. This only creates illusions in workers
of the parliamentary road to a better society. The World is now facing an Imperialist US war and
environmental annihilation in many countries. The left are failing to build the international force
required to smash Capitalism.
of the parliamentary road to a better society. The World is now facing an Imperialist US war and
environmental annihilation in many countries. The left are failing to build the international force
required to smash Capitalism.
⏩Harry Hutchinson is a member of the Labour Party Northern Ireland.
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