Comments on: Where next for Labour? Or the new party system. 2 and one halfs and two quarters and a twentieth… and counting. http://www.irishelection.com/2007/02/where-next-for-labour-or-the-new-party-system-2-and-one-halfs-and-two-quarters-and-a-twentieth%e2%80%a6-and-counting/ Coverage of Irish Politics, News and Current Affairs Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:43:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.5 By: Cian http://www.irishelection.com/2007/02/where-next-for-labour-or-the-new-party-system-2-and-one-halfs-and-two-quarters-and-a-twentieth%e2%80%a6-and-counting/comment-page-1/#comment-15484 Cian Mon, 26 Feb 2007 18:20:29 +0000 http://www.irishelection.com/02/where-next-for-labour-or-the-new-party-system-2-and-one-halfs-and-two-quarters-and-a-twentieth%e2%80%a6-and-counting/#comment-15484 I mentioned on another post at CLR the following point. The strengthening of positions for Sinn Fein, Ind and Greens means that Labour faces an existential issue. There are not enough voters at present to sustain all parties and either Labour engages in the sort of conflict that saw an end to the SDLP or the left coalesce around issues which would expand the pool of voters in such a way as to grow a spectrum of left leaning parties. I dont credit labour with the pragmatism, foresight or idealism to make it happen but the issue which may provoke the cooperation needed is seeing SF and others benefit from remobilising some of the estates which labour dont penetrate. I mentioned on another post at CLR the following point. The strengthening of positions for Sinn Fein, Ind and Greens means that Labour faces an existential issue. There are not enough voters at present to sustain all parties and either Labour engages in the sort of conflict that saw an end to the SDLP or the left coalesce around issues which would expand the pool of voters in such a way as to grow a spectrum of left leaning parties.

I dont credit labour with the pragmatism, foresight or idealism to make it happen but the issue which may provoke the cooperation needed is seeing SF and others benefit from remobilising some of the estates which labour dont penetrate.

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