Sinn Féin’s hidden crisis? *updated*
In the comments on Pete’s entry covering Padraig McShane’s resignation from Sinn Féin I noted the following list (now substantially updated) of Councillors that have resigned recently (this list is confined to those that have left during the current council terms north and south – those that left in previous terms are excluded):
Dessie Ward
Padraig McShane
Briege Meehan
Domhnall O’Cobhthaigh
Gerry McHugh
Bernice Swift
Barry Monteith
Gerard Foley
Michael Tallon
Poilin Ui Cathain
Killian Ford
Christy Burke
John Dwyer
Louise Minihan
Thomas Pringle
Ian Dooley
Martin Connolly
Oliver Hughes
Patsy Groogan
As medillen commented there is no shared reason for these resignations. It remains fact around 7% of their councillors have left across Ireland in a very short period and it is closer to 10% taking the north alone 10% of their Councillors have left across Ireland. In any other party this would be flagged as a serious problem with their middle tier and a possible indicator of more widespread internal problems.
However, as our predictions contest shows not even those with no fondness for SF expect this to impact on their vote come Thursday.
*Note – the list has grown thanks to reader comments, please feel free to send me any names I have missed*
Update Keith is attempting to detail the reasons for each resignation from the party or council. His incomplete list is here and copied below – if you can fill in the blanks (preferably with link) let him know.
Dessie Ward – no longer defend the party’s left-wing political position.
Padraig McShane
Briege Meehan – child abuse allegations
Domhnall O’Cobhthaigh – “contradiction between the nationalist and socialist agendas within Sinn Fein”
Gerry McHugh – Disaffection with Assembly power balance
Bernice Swift – resigned from the Council over Sinn Féin’s changed attitude to policing
Barry Monteith – does not believe the party’s political strategy will lead to a united Ireland
Gerard Foley
Michael Tallon
Poilin Ui Cathain – Sinn Fein’s support of PSNI
Killian Ford -Jumps ship to Labour after poor election
Christy Burke – differences?
John Dwyer – Irish election fallout
Louise Minihan – Irish election fallout
Thomas Pringle – could no longer participate in the party structure
Ian Dooley
Martin Connolly
Oliver Hughes
Patsy Groogan
Further update The figures show the trend is essentailly the same north and south:
All Ireland – 10.5% of Cllrs left party or Council during current mandate (19 from 180)
North of Ireland – 10% (13 from 126)
South of Ireland – 11% (6 from 54)
having your home broke into and your wife intimidated is harder to forget.
and over 300,000 did the last time they were asked to.
Beardie is 1/500 according to the bookies to keep West Belfast. If I was still there I would be asking why the place is going to Hell in a handcart. SF have the PSNI answerable to them now, and the “Community Policing” is supposed to be working. Why then have the murders of Harry Holland, Bap McGreevy, and that other poor guy kicked to death for a cigarette,along with a growing undercurrent of violence, come about on Big Gerry’s watch? Where are the proper jobs? Just wait until the State spending is reeled in, as it will be. Weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Looks like only the Shinners and Fianna Fail are losing support in the 26: http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0501/poll.html
Is Sinn Fein getting media training from MI5 these days.
Because that post is a classic example of British smear tricks.
The woman is obviously suffering post traumatic stress, as are many ex Vols.
Rather than help those affected,draft dodgers in SinnFein want to use this a stick to insult opponents. Just like they referred to another well known Republican with personal problems as the “River Rat”.
Slabbers the lot of em.
Dismiss the Councillors if you wish, but now you’re dismissing your own voters.
Someday soon West Belfast will be their only stronghold.
Bah, dissident journalists with an anti Sinn Fein agenda. Grrrrrr.
I noted the reasons differ and linked to a post where someone attempted to categorise them. However, that doesn’t matter to you…
It has not just ‘come about’ it appears to have been there for some time, unfettered, un punishable brutality. It has to stop and the peace process is the only way to do it, anything else prolongs and accentuates the violence.
Perhaps the reason some have left SF is they see the complete lack of accountability, and the indifference, some of it displayed in this thread, to the victims.
It looks like, unlike up North, the public in the south have caught up with Sinn Fein. It won’t be long before the North follows and we see the whole base of Sinn Fein fall apart.
Adding three more that resigned within current mandate:
Martin Connolly
Oliver Hughes
Patsy Groogan
It annoys me when any sort of scrutiny is shone on Sinn Fein by nationalists/republicans, you’re automatically either labelled a ‘stoop’ or a dissident.
Sinn Fein has moved increasingly to the centre and has won new support, particularly the young nationalist vote west of the Bann, but they’re steadily leaking many traditional members from areas like East Tyrone.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the SF percentage dipped, but I don’t expect it to. Those disinchanted will either spoil their vote or (more likely) not vote at all, and I’d largely expect that potential loss to be filled by new young voters.
[...] has kick-started an interesting debate over on Slugger about Sinn Fein’s hidden crisis. 19 SF councillors have resigned in the most recent ‘electoral cycle’. Below I’ve [...]
AD,
As do I and I note in the entry.
But when you see the list (and it has been growing) it does seem to indicate a problem with retaining their middle tier.
the S.D.L.P would not get a single vote in the 26 counties crown john, so you are a nice person giving advice.
Still looking for other resignation reasons. Think we need these for clarity. A lot of guessing going on in this thread, most of it wide off the mark.
Further update to show a 10% trend across Ireland.
I probably wouldn’t disagree.
But would theorise this is perhaps a symptom of a ‘normalisation’ of politics. For example, Sinn Fein are dominant at all levels from council up to Westminster. ‘Middle tier’ voters as you suggest might direct dissatisfaction with things like roads and general frustration with government (both local and regional) at Sinn Fein, potentially in my opinion generating voter apathy.
There is also (on a lesser scale) potential for votes to drift to the SDLP. On the other hand FST is the opposite, the tribal nature of it will galvanise the middle to vote Sinn Fein.
I probably wouldn’t disagree.
But I would theorise this is perhaps a symptom of a ‘normalisation’ of politics. For example, Sinn Fein are dominant at all levels from council up to Westminster. ‘Middle tier’ voters as you suggest might direct dissatisfaction with things like roads and general frustration with government (both local and regional) at Sinn Fein, potentially in my opinion generating voter apathy.
There is also (on a lesser scale) potential for votes to drift to the SDLP. On the other hand FST is the opposite, the tribal nature of it will galvanise the middle to vote Sinn Fein.
Apologies about the long winded stutter.
Just to clarify i’m talking about West Tyrone here where SInn Fein are dominant.
keep on having those wet dreams John.
At least you seem to have given up the old ‘ soon all those voters that ‘lent’ their votes to sf will return to the SDLP’ bollocks.
AD,
Sorry, can’t seem to nestle this reply.
I’m agreeing SF’s vote will not be affected in this election (unlike the south there is no real credible alternative for their vote – the SDLP are still missing every open goal and dissenters are unwilling to put themselves forward for fear of further humiliation).
The ‘middle tier’ I’m talking about is the activists/members and the level of hemorrhaging noted must surely be an indication of what is happening further down in their activist base.
Eventually losing activists at that rate could have an impact, to the benefit of the SDLP, some as yet uncreated electoral alternative or a drift to apathy.
so who decides that the reasons listed beside the names are the real reasons?
nobody. these are the reasons reported in the media.
feel free to individually contact each councillor former-councillor if you have the time/inclination.
An insight into what you will be trotting out if SF have a good election Mark?
no credible alternative?
It would’nt be their constituency service, peace strategy etc?
I’ll leave that up to you as you are the one asking.
[...] have 10% of SF Cllrs resigned? Over on Slugger we along with Keith are trying to find links to the reasons 10% of SF councillors have resigned [...]
If SF have a good election, which I am on record stating I assume will happen, even if they lose FST, I’ll be trotting out the line they had a good election.
The only people we already know will have a bad election are dissenting republicans -as they didn’t have the balls, strategy or support to put candidates forward.
However, none of that deflects from the subject at hand – a very clear and documented pattern of SF losing elected reps, middle tier activists and party stalwarts.
Fair enough.
I know SF have lost a variety of stalwarts and dedicated activists, they have also lost people who were’nt dedicated and who were’nt activists aswell, as a former member Mark you will know the type of person I refer to.
The facts are that the vast majority of stalwarts and dedicated activists still support the current sf strategy.
as soon as friday old school, i think not, the only dissident strongholds are the MI5 base and the odd journalists source.
weren’t even
Red,
I acknowledge the commitment and dedication of most of SF’s activist base and their belief in the party.
Just because I am no longer part of it and am critical doesn’t mean I don’t have a great deal of respect for many people still there and an understanding they are genuinely committed to their project and hold deep belief it can achieve aims I share.
This blog isn’t about that though, its about serious numbers of elected reps walking away.
Is there number that serious when you look at the actual number listed who have gone because of political reasons, remembering some of them said they still endorse SF’s peace strategy and policing stance.
It’s lees than the ten per cent you quote and given the enormous political changes this last decade and more I’d say it’s to be expected.
Furthermore it would be fair to say that any councillor unhappy has probably left or will not go forward for re-election as a sf candidate next time round so I cant see any other significant defection.
It would be a lot more alarming if it was support at the ballot box.
their even
Gerry Adams needs to rest himself after this Westminister election.
Sinn Féin is about more than Gerry Adams and the only way to get this mesage across is for Gerry to go write his memoirs.
Reading reports now of defections from Republican Sinn Fein in Limerick. It appears RSF in the treaty county are to go their own way, and will be joined by some members from Cork.
So, what, exactly, does this mean?
If they are not very careful it could mean the beginning of the disintegration of SF. I hope not, but they have no choice, either grow into a real democratic party or wither away.
how many groups are people like them going to walk out of, pippakin i hope that SF instead of RSF is just a small error.
You know it was a mistake! Not that the same will not apply if they are not careful..
at easter the continunity which R.SF are connected to, read out a statement which said that the real were traitors, there is the smell of a feud in the air between the dissidents and looks like some want nothing to do with it and are running to the hills, wonder what side old school will take.
Michael Henry
When will you learn, when it comes to republicans, including SF, there is always the smell of feud in their air. It is feudal by nature.
Michael Tallon remains a member of Sinn Féin
[...] and nationally”He was one of a long line of local elected representative, 20 in total making up 10% of their party at that level, leaving during their current term.However, for SF poaching a former Green councillor is a coup to be celebrated – no talk of hard [...]
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