Splits in the SWP leadership over election policy revealed. 3 tendencies emerge.

Wednesday September 11, 2002 20:12

by El Bandito

It's believed that there is a split over the question of elections in the SWP. These divisions erose before, during and after the recent Dáil elections.

It is believed that the SWP are split over election policy.

Grace Lally is believed to hold an abstentionist position. Should the SWP ever get elected she argues that they should abstain from Parliament. A position sonwhat similar to Sinn Féin's old position.

The anti-election tendency is headed up by Kieran Allen. Allen argues against standing for elections at all. It is believed that his views about elections were formed when he himself stood for election in England and did disasterously.

On the other hand Richard Boyd-Barrett is the strongest advocate for elections in the SWP. Boyd-Barrett was the strongest preforming SWP candidate in the recent Dáil elections, receiving 876 votes. He argues that the SWP position should be similar to the SP position, ie use elections for getting your politics out among the working class and use elected positions as a platform.

After the high vote that Militant Labour (now Socialist Party) received in the Dublin West by-election of 1996 the SWP changed their position on elections. Their official line is now that of the Boyd-Barrett tendency. However due to their disasterous preformances in 1999 local elections and the recent 2002 Dail elections, this position may come under some strain.