#LE23: Sinn Féin surge, smaller parties squeezed

We need an anti-sectarian working-class alternative

By Amy Ferguson

THE ELECTIONS were a continuation of what we have seen before: Sinn Féin and the DUP strengthening their positions and support increasing for Alliance. These elections took place in the midst of the cost of living crisis, and threatened cutbacks in the Stormont budget (read more on page three). While the main parties in the elections offered no way forward for working-class people, the strike action and campaigns to save services that have taken place over the past few weeks give a glimpse of the potential of real change.

The biggest story coming out of LE23 is Sinn Féín becoming the largest party. In the electoral sphere political nationalism is becoming increasingly homogenous, with Sinn Féin growing at the expense of the SDLP.

Sinn Féin’s vote increase also reflects the anger amongst many working-class Catholics at the DUP boycott of Stormont. Both because of the impact it has on public services, and because it is preventing the first nationalist First Minister from taking office.

Unionist parties' vote share was splintered in many areas between the DUP and the TUV in particular, who saw their vote and seat number increase. However, this was the first local government election since 2005 that the DUP has not lost a seat. It came out of the election with an endorsement of its approach on the NI Protocol. This reflects the anxiety felt in many working-class Protestant areas that the protocol undermines their identity and position in the United Kingdom. Turnout also shows fewer people voted in Protestant areas in comparison to Catholic areas. This is in part because of the right-wing and often evangelical presentation of unionist parties that cuts across young people’s enthusiasm and willingness to turn out to vote for these parties.

The Alliance Party also made significant gains. Many see them as the only anti-sectarian option on the table. But unfortunately the Alliance Party, despite presenting themselves as wishing to build a “Progressive Northern Ireland',' offers little for working-class people. Alliance have consistently and openly supported policies which are detrimental to working-class communities – water charges, increasing tuition fees, welfare ‘reform’, and opposing trade union rights.

Establishment parties offer no alternative

The polarisation around Sinn Féin, DUP and to a lesser extent Alliance, was a factor in the squeeze on smaller, left wing, independent candidates including the Greens and PBP. While the main parties present themselves as the ‘champions’ of their respective communities – they are the opposite. While in Stormont together they united to attack working-class people. They implemented welfare reform and attacked public services, creating the crisis our NHS and education system faces today. The last time they could, they offered NHS workers a 3% pay rise!

If there isn’t a challenge from working-class people the cost of living crisis and cutbacks are only set to worsen. The Socialist Party stood in this election raising the urgent need to challenge the sectarian, anti-worker politics of the establishment parties. We pointed toward the actions of workers and young people on picket lines and campaigns as being the force that can achieve change. Building that fight back will require conscious and urgent action in workplaces and communities.