Eamonn McCann talks about People Before Profit in Derry elections

by Derry wan Mon May 10, 2010 19:08

People in the South might not realise that Westminster elections are first-past-the-post, not PR - this makes it much more difficult if you are not part of "tribal" politics as people are slow to give their only vote to someone who they think has no hope of winning....in fact, this was the argument made to me at my door by both SF and SDLP canvassers when I told them I was voting McCann "you're wasting your vote, he has no chance". Since I wouldn't vote for any of those liars anyway, I would have spoiled my vote if I hadn't had him to vote for. Anyway, I just checked the vote he got in the last Westminster election - you can do it yourself on http://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/afoy.htm and it was 1,649 or 3.6% of the vote. This time it was 2,936 or 7.8%, that's more than double in percentage terms and 1,300 more votes, on a turnout that was well down. And, to be honest, with an electorate where lots of people don't register to vote because most people think there's no point, cause there is no one to vote for most of the time.

To get an Assembly seat, you need 14% of the vote (including 2nd or 3rd preferences). Both SDLP and SF admit in private that there is a seat in the Assembly for him if he keeps campaigning against cuts and job losses as he has been. There is hardly likely to be a drop-off in socialist campaigning over the next year since the SF/DUP junta at Stormont passed an "emergency" budget in secret, using emergency powers to do so, just before the election was called. The secrecy suggests there are a lot of cutbacks ahead....

by Red Jed Sat May 08, 2010 14:43

If you try reading my posts again Red hand and paying proper attention this time you will see that envy and begrudgery for Eamonn McCann are not factored in.I have a great deal of respect for Eamonn and hailed his achievement.
I as merely being realistic.

I think you need to check your figures though. This time he got 2936 votes in Foyle. Last Westminster election he got 2045. Don’t quite see your logic for saying this was a doubling of his vote.

Yup, nearly 900 extra votes this time around is a good increase, but it doesn’t really suggest a massive upsurge in support. I doubt many of these extra folks gave their vote on the back of Raytheon closing. I’d say this was more people concerned about their water rates and the keeping money in their own pockets.

Look, get over the fact that the majority of people in Derry don’t give a damn about people before profit – just profit. You could fill the town with Raytheons, Fujitsus, Northrop Grummans, Thalis and other war companies and I doubt the majority would give a damn. Don't be sore, just because not everyone sees the world the way we do. In an ideal society yes. But we don't live in an ideal society. We live in a calitalist one where man cares more about his bank account before he cares about his brother.

by willy sash Sat May 08, 2010 00:30

A Freeman, Naomi Long and Hermon are both unionists

by Red Hand Fri May 07, 2010 20:39

Mccann almost doubled his vote share to 7.9%, the threshold for an assembly seat last time was 7%. well on course for a seat, WELL DONE!

Mccann almost doubling his vote share whilst every other party lost support must also mean that the people of Derry supported his actions in getting Rytheon closed.

Iron logic and fact triumphs over the envy and begrudgery of 'election watcher' and 'red jed'.

by Red Jed Fri May 07, 2010 19:43

Yup Freeman
Have to agree with everything you say. And have to admit I laughed out loud when they announced the Alliance win over Robinson. Don't think too many will miss the corrupt muppet, not even his own party - I saw Ian Paisley Jr and Geoffrey Donaldson interviewed afterwards and they seemed to be fighting back the smiles.

Didn't hear much about the dissidents. Well what was the point of them standing - they lack the intelligence and the respect to attract many voters. Besides they seem more content to use fear and intimidation to control their local communities than do it via politics. And I doubt they can even spell the word manifesto.

Pity about the McCann camp. Hat off to them, they made a real effort this time, but I think Eammon was a tad optimistic expecting about 5000 votes. I hope he takes some solace in the fact that he had a considerable increase in votes since the last time he ran. Like his people before profit idea but not that realistic when it comes to the everyday folk in Derry. People would rather have well paid jobs feeding back into the economy, even if it is means having companies in the town who work for the MOD and other warmongers, like Raytheon (RIP!) or Fujitsu(Next on the DAWC hit-list?).

Ah well, maybe next election....

by A Freeman Fri May 07, 2010 17:53

The really outstanding result of the UK election in NI is Naomi Long's fantastic achievement in winning East Belfast which I don't think anyone (except maybe the Alliance party!) predicted. It's great to have MPs like Naomi Long (and Sylvia Hermon too) being elected on a non-Sectarian basis, it's unfortunate that Fermanagh-S.Tyrone was reduced to a sectarian headcount. The complete failure of Ulster Conservatives and Unionists - New Force should call for a rethink there and maybe a catchier name!

Did the political fronts for the dissident sectarian terrorists (CIRA, RIRA etc) even bother to put up candidates or were they just completely ignored by the electorate again? - I suppose it's just back to wanton murder and destruction for them then, what would they do without their sordid 'campaigns'?

by Red Jed Fri May 07, 2010 13:33

Yeah. We still live in traditional little Norn Iron where most people vote with their upbringing and with their heads.
Where people would rather vote to suit their ingrained bigotry to "stop the other kind from having all the power" than stopping to look at the manifestos, considering what will be best for the future and then voting for the person who can offer it.
Until we can break the cycle of tribal voting and break the mindset behind it then we'll have to put up with the same old tired corrupt and self serving faces who just keep us trundling down the same old road.....

by Election watcher Fri May 07, 2010 09:53

Eamonn McCann and People Before Profit Alliance's 2900 votes is a poor result. McCann had set himself the goal of getting 5000 votes and this result is dramatically short of that target and raises the strong prospect of him retiring from electoral politics. One these figures he would have no chance of taking a seat in next years' Assembly elections which was his real target. With the loss of their vote base in West Belfast this has turned out to be a major setback for the PBPA project in Northern Ireland.

by eh man - none at all Tue Apr 13, 2010 21:10

It is true that Eamonn addressed the issue of the SEA and People before Profit in the speech, though I would take issue with him on his description of the SEA as being a coming together of the SWP and the Green Party. As far as my memory serves me, there was only one member of the Green Party in the SEA. There were a lot more independent left-thinking people who always seem to be left out of the equation when the dogmatic left are discussing issues like this. There were also some Socialist Party members in the SEA, which to me was a major step forward, bringing SWP and SP members together under one banner for an extended period of time.
I wish the PBPA all the best in the election and, indeed, I will be going to Derry to give what help I can to their campaign. I would also urge as many people as is possible to join in their campaign because Eamonn is right about the election in Derry. It is the one constituency in the North where the left can make substantial gains. Not a seat, but enough headway to encourage other groups to take on the real issues that affect working class communities thriught the country.
Wouldn't it be great to see Joe Higgins going to Derry to lend a hand?