Once again we will see the scramble for seats in a British parliament as SF and the DUP canvass for support among their faithful voters. This election, like the last, will see both parties claim it as the most important yet. The reality however, like the last election and the one before that, is that it will be nothing more than another sectarian headcount.

Ever since Sinn Féin stood in Westminster elections, they have abstained from taking seats. This was a policy supported by most Irish Republicans, and for years the broad Republican base had nothing to do with British politics.

In more recent times however, we have witnessed the almost weekly attendance of Sinn Féin MP’s at the London Parliament, as they engage with all parties. An indication perhaps of the importance now placed on Westminster by the upper echelons of Sinn Féin. The pursuit of political clout at Westminster, compounded by SDLP rhetoric on abstentionism, will likely lead to the dropping of the policy of not taking seats there, in time.

Brexit has arguably been the biggest political issue in recent years, with petty debates and arguments about how it’s going to impact on the lives of ordinary people. The working classes in Britain and Ireland will still be ignored by a government that will continue to implement policies where the poor become poorer and the multinationals will get even richer.

So will this upcoming election benefit Irish people? We say: no.

It will do nothing for the cause of Irish unity and will be a mere repackaging of the same old arguments all wrapped up in the context of Brexit.

One thing is clear – as Sinn Féin/SDLP/DUP/UUP/Alliance landlords continue their stranglehold on the Six County housing market in their pursuit of profit, restricting house-building to push up rents – it’s just more of the same for the people of this part of Ireland.


The only real and lasting solution to the issues faced by the Irish people, is National Sovereignty and a democratic economy controlled by and for the people. A 32 County Socialist Republic.