Should FF stand in the North?

doopa

With the unexpected demise of the SDLP in the UK General Election should Fianna Fail accelerate their plans to stand candidates in the North? 
https://sluggerotoole.com/2017/06/09/time-for-fianna-fail-to-stake-a-claim-in-the-fourth-green-field/

marketty

FF shouldn't even stand in the South

Think the timing would be all wrong. There was a time in the earlier stages of the Peace Process when the SDLP and FF could have hopped into bed, but not now. FF would be better off concentrating on their resurgence in the 26 counties, the SDLP need to figure out what their future is and not hitch up to another party. The growth of the more extreme parties on both sides in the North, SF and the DUP (once they get over their champagne parties tonight), has to top out at some stage, and the SDLP and the UUP reap the benefits of those nostalgic for the parties that got NI to where it is today.

flutered

i think they made an attempt back in the day, the response and feedback changed their mind, i may well be wrong, there is something in the back of my mind as regards this

Jayop

Of course they should. They call themselves a republican party and as such they should behave as one and field candidates in the north. A merger with the Sdlp now or even a complete takeover. Ff's election nous could get them back on their feet and give people a real alternative to SF should they want it. They'd want to be a lot sharper with their candidate selection than what's going on now up there though.

FrancieBrady

'The two extreme parties' stuff trips too lightly off the tongue.
The DUP are conservative economically and extreme socially.
SF are hardly extreme in either, wanting the same norms socially as here and the UK while more and more moving away from socialist values economically.
The reason FF don't run is 1. They don't understand northern Ireland and 2. They would struggle to capture votes (potential embarassment.)

HalloweenJack

They have been registered up North since 2007 and haven't run any candidates in that time. I don't see any reason for them to run up there. Their particular form of populism wouldn't work up there.

Mr.Micro

HalloweenJack wrote: »

They have been registered up North since 2007 and haven't run any candidates in that time. I don't see any reason for them to run up there. Their particular form of populism wouldn't work up there.

Correct. FF have nothing to offer. Pure opportunists.

Sierra Oscar

Yes they should - and they will. An SDLP merger has been mooted for years but I don't see that happening. Instead I'd imagine they'll try and get SDLP members and candidates to defect.