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In September 2011, the ULA announced a campaign to boycott the new household charge being imposed on the people of Ireland by the EU and IMF. Richard Boyd Barrett promised "a mass campaign of resistance" and Joe Higgins promised "a very, very big campaign in political and organisational terms".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/0907/breaking44.html|title=Household charge protest planned|work=The Irish Times|date=7 September 2011}}</ref>
In September 2011, the ULA announced a campaign to boycott the new household charge being imposed on the people of Ireland by the EU and IMF. Richard Boyd Barrett promised "a mass campaign of resistance" and Joe Higgins promised "a very, very big campaign in political and organisational terms".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/0907/breaking44.html|title=Household charge protest planned|work=The Irish Times|date=7 September 2011}}</ref>

In the [[Irish constitutional referendums, 2011|two constitutional referendums]] held alongside the [[Irish presidential election, 2011]], the United Left Alliance advocated a "yes" vote on the [[Twenty-Ninth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2011 (Ireland)|Twenty-ninth Amendment]] (Judges' Remuneration) and a "no" vote on the [[Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2011 (Ireland)|Thirtieth Amendment]] (Houses of the Oireachtas Inquiries).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.swp.ie/news/united-left-says-no-kangaroo-courts/4947|title=United Left says no to kangaroo courts!|work=Socialist Worker|date=26 October 2011}}</ref>


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 21:28, 28 October 2011

United Left Alliance
Founded29 November 2010 (2010-11-29)
IdeologyDemocratic socialism[1]
Anti-capitalism
Trade unionism
Political positionLeft-wing
National affiliatesSocialist Party,
People Before Profit Alliance,
Workers and Unemployed Action Group
Dáil Éireann
5 / 166
Website
www.unitedleftalliance.org

The United Left Alliance (ULA) is an electoral alliance of left-wing political parties and independent politicians in the Republic of Ireland, formed to contest the 2011 general election. The grouping consists of three existing political parties, the Socialist Party, the People Before Profit Alliance (PBPA), and the Workers and Unemployed Action Group (WUAG),[2] as well as former members of the Labour Party.[3]

Its formation was announced in early November 2010 and it was formally launched on 29 November 2010 at the Gresham Hotel in Dublin.[4] In the February 2011 general election it ran twenty candidates of which five were elected.

Foundation

The formation of the group was announced at a press conference held on 25 November 2010.[2] This followed the announcement a few days earlier that the Green Party would be exiting from the governing coalition with Fianna Fáil, leading to a general election in early 2011, and the day after the unveiling of a four year austerity plan to tackle the country's financial crisis.[2][5][6]

On 11 January 2011 it was reported that members of the Labour Party in Laois-Offaly had joined the ULA due to dissatisfaction with the selection convention for the general election. Ray Fitzpatrick was selected to run in Laois Offaly as a ULA/Socialist Party candidate. Another candidate Liam Dumpleton chose to break his ties withe the ULA and ran as an independent.[3]

Sligo councillor and former Labour TD, Declan Bree's Independent Socialist Group joined the ULA in February 2011,[7] and it was confirmed that Bree would be standing in the Sligo–North Leitrim constituency.[8] Bree had been involved in the talks about setting up the ULA in November 2010 however disagreements arose over the addition of other candidates such as Catherine Connolly in Galway West.[9] The ULA is also receiving backing from Socialist Democracy, the Irish section of the Fourth International.[10] The Irish Republican Socialist Party (IRSP) permits its members to aid ULA election campaigns in a personal capacity but has criticised the ULA's lack of revolutionary and anti-imperialist platforms.[11]

The United Left Alliance name did not appear on ballot papers for the 2011 general election, and candidates were listed under their individual parties or as non-party. This was because the alliance is not yet a registered political party: attempts to have "United Left Alliance" added to the names of the constituent parties by the Registrar of Political Parties had not been completed in time for the February 25 poll.[12]

Programme

The alliance declared that it wished to become an alternative to a potential Fine Gael–Labour coalition government that could be formed following the election.[2] They oppose public spending cuts and reductions in welfare and pay rates and have ruled out deals or coalitions with either Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael - who they describe as "right wing parties". The programme agreed by the parties making up the alliance has seven "key demands".[13]

2011 general election candidates

The alliance initially stated that it expected to stand about twenty candidates for election in 2011.[2] By 14 February twenty had been announced.[6][12][14][15] Five candidates were elected.[16]

  Denotes candidates elected to Dáil Éireann

Constituency Candidate Party % Votes
Carlow–Kilkenny Conor Mac Liam Socialist Party 1.5
Cork North Central Mick Barry Socialist Party 9.2
Cork North West Anne Foley PBPA 3.4
Dublin Mid West Robert Connolly Socialist Party 1.5
Dublin Mid West Gino Kenny PBPA 5.8
Dublin North Clare Daly Socialist Party 15.2
Dublin North Central John Lyons PBPA 3.7
Dublin North East Brian Greene Socialist Party 2.1
Dublin North West Andrew Keegan PBPA 2.1
Dublin South Nicola Curry PBPA 1.8
Dublin South Central Joan Collins PBPA 12.9
Dublin South East Annette Mooney PBPA 1.8
Dublin South West Mick Murphy Socialist Party 5.2
Dublin West Joe Higgins Socialist Party 19.0
Dún Laoghaire Richard Boyd Barrett PBPA 10.9
Laois–Offaly Ray Fitzpatrick Socialist Party[17] 0.8
Limerick City Cian Prendiville Socialist Party 1.7
Sligo–North Leitrim Declan Bree Independent 5.1
Tipperary South Séamus Healy WUAG 21.3
Wexford Séamus O'Brien PBPA 1.0

31st Dáil

The five TDs elected under the ULA banner sit as part of the Technical Group, along with 11 other Independent TDs.[18]

It was reported in April 2011 in the political magazine, The Phoenix, that the ULA was divided between the Socialist Party and the PBPA with "palpable tension between the two groups at their own weekly ULA meetings as well as at Technical Group gatherings, with BB [Richard Boyd Barret] and [Joe] Higgins barely speaking to each other unless required to conduct essential business." [19]

The ULA held its first national convention on the 27th of June in Liberty Hall in Dublin which was attended by 400 delegates.[20]

In September 2011, the ULA announced a campaign to boycott the new household charge being imposed on the people of Ireland by the EU and IMF. Richard Boyd Barrett promised "a mass campaign of resistance" and Joe Higgins promised "a very, very big campaign in political and organisational terms".[21]

In the two constitutional referendums held alongside the Irish presidential election, 2011, the United Left Alliance advocated a "yes" vote on the Twenty-ninth Amendment (Judges' Remuneration) and a "no" vote on the Thirtieth Amendment (Houses of the Oireachtas Inquiries).[22]

References

  1. ^ http://www.villagemagazine.ie/index.php/2011/01/interview-with-joe-higgins-mep/
  2. ^ a b c d e "New 'United Left Alliance' formed". RTÉ News. 25 November 2010.
  3. ^ a b "Dumpleton declares candidacy in left split". Offaly Express. 19 January 2011.
  4. ^ "Public Launch Rally". United Left Alliance. 16 November 2010. Retrieved 25 November 2010.
  5. ^ "Plan is a 'pathway to recovery' - Cowen". RTÉ News. 25 November 2010.
  6. ^ a b "Press Statement: United Left Alliance announces general election challenge today". Joe Higgins MEP. 25 November 2010.
  7. ^ http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/0213/breaking12.html
  8. ^ http://www.breakingnews.ie/election/news/poll-confirms-growing-support-for-united-left-alliance-493433.htm
  9. ^ ULA! “No one would have believed….” Irish Left Review (13/12/2010)
  10. ^ http://www.socialistdemocracy.org/RecentArticles/RecentStatementVoteForTheUnitedLeftAlliance.html
  11. ^ http://irsm.org/news/?p=248
  12. ^ a b Paul Cullen (2 February 2011). "Grouping abandons move to get its name on ballot". The Irish Times.
  13. ^ "Programme of the United Left Alliance". United Left Alliance. 19 November 2010. Retrieved 25 November 2010.
  14. ^ http://www.socialistparty.net/elections/575-general-election-challenge-of-united-left-alliance-strengthens
  15. ^ "Election 2011". The Irish Times. 2 February 20111. pp. 12–13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  16. ^ "Higgins pledges to build new party of left as five elected under ULA banner". Irish Times. 2011-02-28. Retrieved 2011-02-28.
  17. ^ http://www.socialistparty.net/election/laoisoffaly/602-laoisoffaly-ray-firztpatrick
  18. ^ Collins, Stephen (8 March 2011). "Independents agree grouping". The Irish Times. Retrieved 8 March 2011.
  19. ^ "The First Item..." (PDF). The Phoenix (magazine). 20 April 2011. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
  20. ^ "State should default on debt and leave euro, economist tells left-wing forum". Irish Times. 27 June 2011.
  21. ^ "Household charge protest planned". The Irish Times. 7 September 2011.
  22. ^ "United Left says no to kangaroo courts!". Socialist Worker. 26 October 2011.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=United_Left_Alliance&oldid=457881671"