Adams urges Labour to be left wing alternative
Labour should forge a real left wing alternative to the Government instead of courting Fine Gael as a future coalition partner, the party was urged today.
As he prepared for this weekend’s annual Wolfe Tone commemoration in Bodenstown, Co Kildare, Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams accused some Labour Party members of only being interested in “getting their bums on ministerial seats”.
The West Belfast MP also warned Pat Rabbitte’s party that Fine Gael’s policies on social and economic issues were not that different from the current Fianna Fáil/Progressive Democrat Government.
Mr Adams observed: “Labour is already signalling that it is once again looking to Fine Gael as partners in government – a party whose policies are actually in line with the current Government on social and economic issues.
“Labour should learn the lessons of the election.
“They should work with others to build a real left alternative, which would also have a progressive position on the national question.
“The history of Labour throughout its existence has been that it has taken the completely wrong position on this question.
“While undoubtedly there are sincere elements within the party who are committed to progressive policies, there are also those who appear to be only interested in getting their bums on ministerial seats.”
Sinn Féin this week was celebrating significant gains in the local government and European Elections, which have put it in a strong position to win more Dáil seats.
Fianna Fáil sustained heavy losses in the elections.
Fine Gael was pleased with its performance, increasing its vote by 1.6%.
However Mr Adams said today while this was a good result, Enda Kenny’s party was only really stemming the tide.
The Sinn Féin president welcomed the 342,000 people who supported his party on both sides of the border, claiming voters wanted far-reaching political change on both sides of the Irish border.
In the Irish Republic, he claimed successive governments had pursed right wing policies vigorously and had repeatedly failed to address the crises in health and housing.
As the Celtic Tiger economy prospered, the West Belfast MP said poverty and inequality increased and public services diminished.
Mr Adams also said Sinn Féin’s success should not be measured by the support it got at elections but by the amount of change it delivered.
“Quite significantly we have the capacity to set the political agenda,” he said.
“So while other parties are bigger than us, already many Fianna Fáil representatives have realised that the Government’s inability to tackle the issues of poverty, hospital waiting lists and the housing crisis needs to be rectified.
“If one of the outcomes of this election is that the Government is forced to deal with these issues, then that is a very positive development.”
The Sinn Féin president said a radical agenda was needed to end inequality and advance the peace process and Irish unity.
He appealed for a broad alliance for change which he said should include “not merely political parties but community groups, voluntary organisations, trade unions, farmers’ organisations, campaigning groups and human rights bodies".
