Left alliance seeks inclusion in polls

The United Left Alliance has written to polling organisations, asking that the organisation be included in forthcoming polls.

At a press conference this morning, Socialist Party MEP Joe Higgins said it was entirely reasonable to request that the ULA be included in future polls as a recent Red C poll had registered 15 per cent for independents, within which the left parties were included.

The organisation, which is to field at least 18 candidates in the upcoming election, is a federation of left wing parties. Eight of its candidates are members of the Socialist Party, eight are members of People Before Profit and one is a member of the Workers and Unemployed Action Group. One member is a member of a Labour Party break-away group in Laois/Offaly that has yet to choose a name.

Mr Higgins said the organisation, set up last November, was rapidly expanding. It was entirely possible its numbers would increase in the run up to the election, but even if they did not, it would be the first time in the history of the state "there was such a wide representation of principled left candidates presented to the electorate".

"The very positive response to the launch of the ULA throughout the country indicates a real thirst for a radical alternative to the establishment parties and particularly to Fine Gael and Labour," he said.