Help Eamonn McCann's PBP campaign in Foyle

Northern politics has traditionally be characterised as a battle between Orange and Green. From the foundation of the state until 1969, Stormont was run as a ‘Protestant parliament for a Protestant’. Only one opposition bill was ever passed into law – the Wild Bird Act that was proposed by the Nationalist party. Every government was made up of members of the Unionist party – and they ran the state  as a little Tory reservation.

Today that has changed but in its place sectarianism has been modernised.

Eamonn McCann, People Before Profit candidate in Westminister elections, speaks in Dublin. from Paula Geraghty on Vimeo.

Now politics is institutionalised around sectarian identities and all representatives to the Northern Assembly must designate themselves as Nationalist, Unionist or Other. Only the first two count in terms of forming a government. The North is more geographically divided on sectarian lines than ever before and every issue is examined through a sectarian lens.

This provides an ideal backdrop for neo-liberal politicians to play a communal game of dividing working people.

Today a former member of the IRA Army Council sits in the same cabinet as a DUP bigot who set up an Ulster Resistance Movement. Both fight over flags and emblems and advancing the sectarian interests of ‘their’ community.

But both agree on the same right wing economic policies.

This is why the candidacy of Eamonn Mc Cann for the Foyle Constituency is so important.

McCann is fighting on the politics of putting working class interests first, and  of cutting across Orange and Green. In his manifesto he states:

‘We stand for the interests of the working class, the marginalised and oppressed. We believe that it is through organising in communities, workplaces and colleges that we can best advance. We will use the platform of a Westminster seat to support and speak up for grass-roots organisation.

‘We go beyond Orange versus Green to speak for the common interests of all who have been left behind by the peace process. We are united with People Before Profit in the South. Campaigning for progressive change across the island is the all-Ireland dimension we believe in.

His campaign promises include the following:

* Expose parties which vote for the budgets behind the cuts and then protest against the cuts when they come.
* help build a mass campaign of non-payment if there is another attempt to impose water charges;
* defend the public sector and oppose the Stormont programme of privatisation;
* campaign for repeal of Thatcher’s anti-union laws - now maintained by the Stormont administration;
* union rights for all workers;
* make migrant workers welcome;
* support major investment in sustainable energy, public transport and recycling;
* work for a fair tax system in which the rich pay their share to help fund the services we depend on;
* back an activist campaign for the repeal of Section 44 of the 2000 Terrorism Act allowing the police to stop and search without establishing suspicion of wrong-doing;
* opposition to dependence on the police or vigilante groups to solve problems such as drugs which mainly arise from social deprivation. A community mobilised to fight for its rights and with a proper voice for young people will be better able to confront all of its problems.
* campaign for integrated all-ability schools; support life-long learning; a massive expansion of child care; an end to fees and student loans

McCann The Man:

Eamonn McCann has been campaigning for civil rights and social justice in Derry for more than 40 years. A life-long trades unionist and socialist, he is vice-chairman of Derry Trades Council and the Northern Ireland representative on the Executive of the National Union of Journalists. He chairs the Bloody Sunday Trust.
He is a member of the Socialist Workers’ Party, of the rail lobby Into The West and of Amnesty International.

He is a long-time opponent of militarism and paramilitarism and was among members of the Derry Anti War Coalition which took non-violent direct action against the bomb-makers, Raytheon.

He is father of Kitty, Luke and Matty and grandfather of Rosie and Alfie. He lives in Derry with his partner Goretti Horgan.

IF YOU WANT TO HELP  CAMPAIGN FOR EAMONN McCANN:-

IN NORTHERN IRELAND PHONE 07521527208

IN THE SOUTH RING (01) 872-2682

YOU CAN GET A LIFT FROM DUBLIN TO DERRY AND BACK. CARS WILL LEAVE FROM DUBLIN EVERY WEEKEND. PLEASE E MAIL info@swp.ie OR RING (01)872-2682 for details.