Sinn Fein's backing of Catherine shows the Left can work together

THE endorsement of Independent TD Catherine Connolly for president by Sinn Fein is now the first time the left in Ireland have actually worked together in an election campaign.

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It is a smart move by the Shinners because it did not have a candidate who could win it apart from their leader and there was no point in running someone just for the sake of it.

If the left really want to get rid of Fianna Fail/Fine Gael in power then they need to act as a united opposition and convince voters they can provide a credible, reliable alternative Government in the next General Election.

If they can put aside their differences and run a good campaign for Connolly people might believe they can actually govern.

We have seen little or no cooperation between the so-called left of Sinn Fein, Labour, the Greens, Social Democrats and People Before Profit down through the years.

The truth is since the growth of Sinn Fein as the main opposition party over a decade ago, all we have seen is jealousy, bickering, snobbery and petty infighting between all of the left.