The pruning of the Rose
With the Labour Party meeting today to discuss the merits of forming the next government with Fianna Fail, Coleman Hudson ponders the political ramifications of Labour's strategy and performance in Election 2007.
“We of the socialist working class realize that as we suffer together we must work together that we may enjoy together. We reject the firebrand of capitalist warfare and offer you the olive leaf of brotherhood and justice to and for all.” – James Connolly
The stagnation of the labour party in this election may have serious consequences for the party, but the myopia of the party in an effort to win votes may have more serious consequences for the Irish political and social landscape.
The move away from traditional labour values under Ruairi Quinn and Pat Rabbitte has left the electorate with little choice of a moderate left; the swelling of the disaffected masses as a result may have planted a seed of discontent that if nurtured could grow social roots. A passionate plea on traditional Labour issues would have struck a chord; instead the centrist platform on which Rabbitte led became a lament to Brendan Corish et al.
Brendan Howlin, perhaps recalling the downfall of fellow Wexford man Corish, wanted to give any form of pre-election contract with another party a wide berth, but the party apparently disagreed and voted by four to one to adopt the Alliance stance with Fine Gael. It merely confirmed that Labour had realigned to the centre, sacrificing the fundamental of the labour ethos in order to win votes in this election. This not only has resulted in a disastrous result for the party, but has set the party back decades on the ground.
What of the labour voter? Where does the moderate left turn? Where is the vote for a welfare state? They are raped of the option to vote against the establishment of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, opting for a niche or radical party is not the preferred choice of many. The ranks of the disaffected grow, but to where do they march? The passing of time will render any tenuous links to mainstream politics weak. What should happen if those cast to the periphery harden against the main parties, if in an economic downturn they wish to lodge a protest vote, to what shelter do they run. The vast gap on the political barometer should be quickly recaptured by Labour before a more dubious plant then the rose comes into bloom.
Many commentators stated that this election was a straight fight between Enda and Bertie (or a referendum concerning Bertie in power). The failure to offer a real alternative does not lie with Enda Kenny or Fine Gael. They were asking for change for change sake. The real failure lay with Pat Rabbitte and the Labour Party to offer a real alternative. The contest was tight between Bertie's corner and that of the blue (complete with faded red trim) and thus forced the electorate's hand. Vote for 'a' or vote for 'b'. Future elections may not offer such clear cut alternatives and the fear remains that if Labour fail to represent it's traditional support base it may result in the birth of a malevolent force in Irish politics.
One would think there are fundamental differences that would prevent the conception of a pre election contract or policy agreement between Fine Gael and Labour being agreed. It is of course possible for a deal to be ironed out with regard forming a government, but to run an election campaign from the same platform does not seem viable nor does it provide the party with any clear mandate. Mr Rabbitte claims it was to offer the Irish people a chance to remove the Fianna Fail/PD government, but at the cost of offering the same electorate a legitimate Labour movement it seems a high price to pay.
The results of the 2007 election will record that the Labour party won 20 seats with 10.1% of the vote, but many will hope that it does not also consign the Labour Party, as social democrats, to the margins of political annals.
Mr Rabbitte states in his personal address on the party website that "I think that we all can do better. Ireland can do better. And to do that, we need to make a change", and perhaps in one way he is right - perhaps he and Labour do need to change. It is suprising that Mr Rabbitte did not refer to his party's history in fighting this campaign, he may have garnered more support had he done so.
“The great appear great because we are on our knees: Let us rise.” Jim Larkin