Where Now for Labour?

Monday March 10, 2003 19:59

by Kenneth Owende - none

Rabbitte leadership in trouble?

The Labour Party are increasing being exposed as being insincere in their opposition to activists in the Anti-War movement. Similarly Anti-Fees and Anti-Bin Tax campaigners are raising serious criticisms of Labour.

The Labour Party are increasingly coming into criticism from activists. Labour's withdrawl from the Shannon demonstration on March 1st brought much criticism to the left leanings of the Labour Party. Over the last weekend Labour TD Kathleen Lynch was severly heckled by Anti-War campaigners for her non-attendence at Shannon and her support for a UN backed War. Also last weekend Labour came into very harsh criticism at the IAWM National Meeting for their unwillingness to get involved in the IAWM and for their support for a UN backed war.

Although welcome to join the IAWM the Labour Party have been reluctant to join. There are open rifts within the Party with Michael D. Higgins not supporting a war with or without a UN resolution. Others in the Party will openly support a "War for Democracy" if the US get a UN Security Council resolution supporting such a war. Rabbitte is facing serious problems within his party from the membership also. The Party membership, which is dwindling and aging, are very unhappy with Rabbitte's support for street demonstrations. A recent poll of Labour members reveal that a substantial amount are unhappy with the Party's new 'left image. 45% said that they were unhappy with this, 23% said they were very unhappy. The remaining members polled stated they were wither happy or very happy with Rabbitte moving Labour to the left.

This poll goes to explain the Party's recent stand-offish mood with the Anti-War movement. This attitude has alienated many active in anti-war activities. The Labour Party are seen as opportunist among most anti-war campaigners for their very weak opposition to the war. In seeing an anti-war mood among the population Rabbitte positioned his Party to the left, but in doing so alienated party membership. This positioning and opportunism comes after the Bin Tax affair where the Labour Mayor Dermot Lacey voted for Bin Chrages in Dublin as part of a deal between Labour and Fianna Fáil. In the colleges Labour are also loosing any friends they may have had. In UCD new Labour SU President Paul Dillon got elected as part of a deal with Fianna Fáil to keep out the Socialist Party.

The Labour Party are facing a number of problems. The Party could well split down the middle if there is a US war with a UN resolution. But importantly Labour, who are failing to make an impact in the Dáil, are also loosing any good will they may have had among activists. With Rabbitte under fire from his own party will he be able to forfill his dream of being a Labour Tánaiste after the next election?