It also doesn’t factor in the SWP CC’s ultra sectarian aggressive manouevring to run Brid Smyth against incumbent TD (and fellow People Before Profit affiliate) Joan Collins and her organization in the now reduced Dublin South Central constituency – thus splitting the vote and losing the seat for the left.
A case could be made for it if- after discussion and agreement within the ULA – and the level of struggle rose significantly that there were enough votes there for 2 far left TDs in a now 4 seater constituency. But despite that massive unlikelihood, it looks like the SWP CC made their unilateral decision to do this in 2011 or earlier, possibly while negotiations for the ULA were occuring!
Nobody doubts Brid Smyth is a highly effective activist who has done some excellent work, but, given the Collins’ organization’s social roots in the working class and long track record as socialist fighters for left unity against sectarianism, this wrecking operation should be condemned staunchly and publicly by the broadest possible section of the left at every turn.