Latest news with #RedNetwork
Irish Times
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
People Before Profit activists quit party over possibility of Sinn Féin-led government
A People Before Profit councillor has quit the party over concerns it would enter a future government with Sinn Féin . Dublin City Council member Madeleine Johansson, who has been vocal in relation to the issue of evictions, is one of some 30 activists in the Red Network who have unanimously left the party. In a statement, the network said People Before Profit should only support a future Sinn Féin government on a 'case by case ... to force them to deliver on their promises'. However, it said a Sinn Féin-led government would 'coalesce with the establishment and leave untouched the real government, the permanent government – the State bureaucracy, army chiefs and head Guards'. READ MORE 'Every incoming government has to sit down with top civil servants and negotiate a programme for government within parameters acceptable to the system.' The network said the party was in danger of being taken over by 'student moralism' while attempting to recruit middle-class people who want it to become part of a future government. Instead, it stated that the 'fake democracy of the Dáil, or Stormont for that matter' should be replaced by a 32-county workers' republic where 'assemblies of workers in workplaces and communities elect delegates, who are recallable, to a workers' national assembly'. Such a change could not happen without a 'working-class revolution' – mass protests and a strikes leading to workplace occupations and a challenge to the old state'. Red Network said there were good politicians in People Before Profit, citing Richard Boyd-Barrett, Gino Kenny and councillor Conor Reddy as people who work hard for their communities. 'But the nature of People Before Profit as an organisation means the fruits of all that work are often wasted and the party's senior politicians frequently tone down their socialist politics in public,' it said. It accused People Before Profit of being a 'frenetic organisation that jumps from issue to issue, dropping one campaign to set up another'. In response, a spokesman for People Before Profit said the party acknowledged the resignation of Cllr Johansson and 'the departure of a small number of affiliated members who have cited strategic differences'. 'Our organisation remains committed to building a 32-county socialist Ireland and the unwavering defence of working people and the oppressed,' it said. 'The departure of a councillor elected under People Before Profit's banner is unfortunate but will not deter us from this work.'
The Journal
10-06-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Socialist Red Network group quits People Before Profit over party's 'perfomative politics'
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY councillor Madeleine Johansson has resigned as a member of People Before Profit, citing political and strategic differences between her Red Network socialist group and the party. The councillor for Palmerstown – Fonthill announced her retirement from PBP in a Facebook post yesterday, saying that after 20 years in the party, 'this has not been an easy decision to make'. 'I feel that the party is not the same as when I joined and I can no longer ignore the change in political principles,' she explained. She said she would continue to work 'alongside and with members of PBP in campaigns, movements and on the council'. 'I will also continue to represent my constituents from the perspective of revolutionary socialist principles,' she said. 'I will work as hard as I always have for the working class communities that I represent.' Johansson said she and other members of Red Network, who 'oppose all division between working class and oppressed people', have argued within PBP for years 'about the need for political honesty, deep organising in working class communities and workplaces and against opportunist practices'. She said the group no longer feel it is possible to continue to do so, and 'instead feel the need to forge a new path for revolutionary socialist politics outside of PBP'. In a statement posted on the Red Network website yesterday, the group said that there were 'many good activists in People Before Profit', including TD Richard Boyd Barrett, former TD Gino Kenny and Dublin North-West councillor Conor Reddy, who 'all work hard in communities'. 'But the nature of People Before Profit as an organisation means the fruits of all that work are often wasted.' Even the best activists in People Before Profit tone down their socialist politics in public. Therefore, there are a number of reasons we feel that People Before Profit is no longer the political vehicle for us. Advertisement Red Network pointed to the party's position on going into government with Sinn Féin as an issue dividing members behind the scenes, although most members, the group said, are opposed to such a move. 'Any Red TD elected to the Dáil would help kick out Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, voting for a Sinn Féin led government externally and on a case by case basis. That's the best position to be in to discipline Sinn Féin and force them to deliver on their promises. 'A Sinn Féin government would coalesce with the establishment and leave untouched the real government, the permanent government – the state bureaucracy, army chiefs and head Guards,' the statement said. 'The current left is divided into those who talk about revolution but sit on the margins of the working class or those who stand in elections and do work in communities but play down their socialist politics. We reject both these approaches.' Red Network also said that PBP's stance on 'culture war' issues was also a factor that led to the rift. 'People Before Profit likes to engage in student moralism and performative politics. We reject that approach,' the group said. Red Network said this has been the mistaken strategy of left parties around the world, 'as they've become more middle class they've justified a move to the right by posturing on social issues'. 'This strategy is the strategy of the Labour Party and People Before Profit have been pulled in the same direction,' the statement said. 'Class struggle can pull those who don't agree with us on social issues into common struggle,' the group said. Contrastingly, 'the moralism of anti-racist work that's external to class struggle only mobilises those who already agree with the left. You can never escape the left bubble that way.' Red Network also pointed to what they said was a disorganised strategic approach by PBP, describing it as 'a frenetic organisation that jumps from issue to issue, dropping one campaign to set up another.' Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Examiner
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
People Before Profit members leave party over stance on coalition with Sinn Féin
A group of People Before Profit members, including a South Dublin County councillor, have left the party, criticising it for being open to government with Sinn Féin. In a 3,000-word statement, the group calling itself the Red Network, which includes Clondalkin councillor Madeleine Johansson, says People Before Profit should not go into government with the main opposition party. The group says it 'has always and will always push for united front social movements — like the water charges movement — to take on the government', but that 'practical unity on particular issues must be accompanied by free and open debate about political strategy and tactics'. The group added: 'Political differences should be discussed openly in front of the working class. We feel that the Red Network has a special voice on the socialist left, a working-class voice, and we think it needs to be heard.' While the group praises the likes of Richard Boyd Barrett, Gino Kenny, and councillor Conor Reddy, it says 'the nature of People Before Profit as an organisation means the fruits of all that work are often wasted'. '32-county worker's republic' The group says it will continue to work alongside many of the same activists, but 'the lines of political demarcation will be clearer'. It says a Sinn Féin government would 'coalesce with the establishment and leave untouched the real government, the permanent government — the state bureaucracy, army chiefs, and head guards'. The Red Network says it wants 'a 32-county worker's republic where assemblies of workers in workplaces and communities elect delegates, who are recallable, to a worker's national assembly'. The statement says the current left is 'divided into those who talk about revolution but sit on the margins of the working class, or those who stand in elections and do work in communities but play down their socialist politics'. The group says that People Before Profit has 'argued ... that we needed to drop anger and appear more respectable — in order to chase white-collar votes'. 'Those of us who went on to form the Red Network argued that failing to articulate the deep anger people felt in the estates would leave an opening for the far right to misdirect that anger." The group says it believes 'student moralism has overtaken People Before Profit as the class basis of the party has changed'. Read More Government to withhold support for motion to end Central Bank facilitation of Israeli war bonds
