Socialist Labour Party (Ireland)
Encyclopedia
The Socialist Labour Party (SLP) was a minor political party
in the Republic of Ireland
formed under the leadership of Matt Merrigan
(Dublin Secretary of the ATGWU
) and Noël Browne
, TD
in 1977. Another key figure was the radical journalist Brian Trench
, now head of the Communications Department at Dublin City University
along with the former Clann na Poblachta
TD Jack McQuillan
. The founders came from the Liaison Committee of the Labour Left, which in 1975/76 had tried to build the "Left Alternative", a coalition of progressive
organisations and individuals, aimed at addressing what they saw as the cultural and economic impoverishment of Irish society by the establishment parties of Fianna Fáil
and Fine Gael
.
The SLP regarded itself as highly progressive. It allowed for the right of factions to organise within the Party. The most notable were the Socialist Workers Tendency, organised around members of the Socialist Workers' Movement
which left in 1980, the Workers Alliance for Action organised around members of the Irish Workers' Group
which left in 1979 and the Republican Socialist Tendency, organised around members of People's Democracy
, which also left in 1979.
In the 1981 general election
the party fielded 7 candidates, with Noël Browne elected for Dublin North–Central. Following a continuing decline in membership, the SLP was dissolved in 1982.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
formed under the leadership of Matt Merrigan
Matt Merrigan
Matthew "Matt" Merrigan was an Irish socialist and trade unionist from Dublin, known for his catchphrase "Profits are wages that have not been distributed yet."...
(Dublin Secretary of the ATGWU
Transport and General Workers' Union
The Transport and General Workers' Union, also known as the TGWU and the T&G, was one of the largest general trade unions in the United Kingdom and Ireland - where it was known as the Amalgamated Transport and General Workers' Union - with 900,000 members...
) and Noël Browne
Noel Browne
Noël Christopher Browne was an Irish politician and doctor. He holds the distinction of being one of only five Teachtaí Dála to be appointed Minister on their first day in the Dáil. His controversial Mother and Child Scheme in effect brought down the First Inter-Party Government of John A...
, TD
Teachta Dála
A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
in 1977. Another key figure was the radical journalist Brian Trench
Brian Trench
Brian Trench is a writer and academic living in Dublin, who has been centrally involved in developing science communication and science-in-society studies in Ireland....
, now head of the Communications Department at Dublin City University
Dublin City University
Dublin City University is a university situated between Glasnevin, Santry, Ballymun and Whitehall on the Northside of Dublin in Ireland...
along with the former Clann na Poblachta
Clann na Poblachta
Clann na Poblachta , abbreviated CnaP, was an Irish republican and social democratic political party founded by former Irish Republican Army Chief of Staff Seán MacBride in 1946.-Foundation:...
TD Jack McQuillan
Jack McQuillan
Jack McQuillan was an Irish politician, trade union official and army officer.He was born in Ballyforan, County Roscommon in 1920. He was a member of the Roscommon Gaelic football team that won the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship in 1943 and 1944...
. The founders came from the Liaison Committee of the Labour Left, which in 1975/76 had tried to build the "Left Alternative", a coalition of progressive
Progressivism
Progressivism is an umbrella term for a political ideology advocating or favoring social, political, and economic reform or changes. Progressivism is often viewed by some conservatives, constitutionalists, and libertarians to be in opposition to conservative or reactionary ideologies.The...
organisations and individuals, aimed at addressing what they saw as the cultural and economic impoverishment of Irish society by the establishment parties of Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party , more commonly known as Fianna Fáil is a centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland, founded on 23 March 1926. Fianna Fáil's name is traditionally translated into English as Soldiers of Destiny, although a more accurate rendition would be Warriors of Fál...
and Fine Gael
Fine Gael
Fine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000...
.
The SLP regarded itself as highly progressive. It allowed for the right of factions to organise within the Party. The most notable were the Socialist Workers Tendency, organised around members of the Socialist Workers' Movement
Socialist Workers Party (Ireland)
The Socialist Workers Party is an Irish Trotskyist political party.-Foundation and growth:The SWP was originally founded in 1971 as the Socialist Workers Movement by supporters of the International Socialists of Britain living in Northern Ireland, who had previously been members of People's...
which left in 1980, the Workers Alliance for Action organised around members of the Irish Workers' Group
Irish Workers' Group
The Irish Workers' Group was a Marxist political party in Ireland. It originated as the Irish Workers Union, which later called itself the Irish Communist Group, and contained a variety of people who all considered themselves to be Marxists...
which left in 1979 and the Republican Socialist Tendency, organised around members of People's Democracy
People's Democracy
People's Democracy was a political organisation that, while supporting the campaign for civil rights for Northern Ireland's Catholic minority, stated that such rights could only be achieved through the establishment of a socialist republic for all of Ireland...
, which also left in 1979.
In the 1981 general election
Irish general election, 1981
The Irish general election of 1981 was held on 11 June 1981, three weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 21 May. The newly elected 166 members of the 22nd Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 30 June when a new Taoiseach and government were appointed....
the party fielded 7 candidates, with Noël Browne elected for Dublin North–Central. Following a continuing decline in membership, the SLP was dissolved in 1982.
Candidates in the 1981 Irish general election
| Constituency | Candidate | 1st Pref. votes | % | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dublin North–Central | Noël Browne Noel Browne Noël Christopher Browne was an Irish politician and doctor. He holds the distinction of being one of only five Teachtaí Dála to be appointed Minister on their first day in the Dáil. His controversial Mother and Child Scheme in effect brought down the First Inter-Party Government of John A... |
5,031 | 12.4 | Elected |
| Dublin North–East | Michael O'Donoghue | 309 | 0.95 | |
| Dublin North–West | Bill Keegan | 209 | 0.64 | |
| Dublin North West Dublin North West (Dáil Éireann constituency) Dublin North–West is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 3 deputies... |
Matt Merrigan Matt Merrigan Matthew "Matt" Merrigan was an Irish socialist and trade unionist from Dublin, known for his catchphrase "Profits are wages that have not been distributed yet."... |
473 | 1.46 | |
| Dublin West | Ivor Nolan | 63 | 0.13 | |
| Dún Laoghaire Dún Laoghaire (Dáil Éireann constituency) Dún Laoghaire is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 4 deputies... |
Dermot Boucher | 575 | 1.19 | |
| Wexford Wexford (Dáil Éireann constituency) Wexford is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 5 deputies... |
John Teehan | 447 | 0.9 |