The Socialist Party has ended its membership of the ULA. We do so with regret as we initiated the negotiations that led to the ULA and are genuine in our preparedness to work with others on the left in a respectful, democratic and principled fashion.

The Socialist Party initiated the United Left Alliance along with the Workers and Unemployed Action Group (WUAG) and the People Before Profit Alliance (PBPA), just over two years ago. In recent months the problem of the ULA’s slow progress has been added to by important political mistakes and the withdrawal of WUAG. Now, as things stand, the Socialist Party has major differences with the position adopted by others in the United Left Alliance on a number of important political issues, and on the operation of the ULA itself. This article will outline some of the issues.

The government would like everyone to believe the household tax registration figures are coming along nicely, that the boycott is irrelevant now, citing registration figures of 1.1 million out of 1.6 million (almost 70%) having registered. The reality is far from that. Here we outline the real figures.

Protests to be held at Irish Embassies across the world and at the Dail on Wednesday 21 November. Letter of protest signed by MEPs to be sent to Taoiseach.

John Maguire was the Unite the Union Convenor at the Visteon plant in Belfast before it closed in 2009. He played a leading role in the occupation of the plant which secured better redundancy packages for the workers. He has now written a play about the occupation which is due to premiere in Belfast in November. Here, John speaks to socialistparty.net about his upcoming play.

A new interim report, entitled 'Towards a Genuine Economic and Monetary Union' was circulated by the President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy. This will be discussed at this week's European Council meeting. Here, the true vision of a fiscal and political union of the European establishments is made clear. It is a vision long on austerity and extremely short on democracy.

No sooner had the government come out with its proposal for a referendum on the rights of children it announced that they are planning cuts to child benefit. This is an exercise in sheer cynicism and hypocrisy if ever there was one!

Independent Newspapers attempt to manufacture an artificial controversy over Socialist Party and some other Left TDs’  travel allowance being used to attend anti House Tax meetings around the country is a transparent attempt to smear those who are engaged in a major fight against destructive austerity policies in general and the Household Tax in particular.

The organised workers’ movement in Ireland was transformed at the beginning of the 20th century, amid an upsurge of intense industrial struggles that brought revolutionary sentiments to new sections of Irish society. Seeing the significance in these developments, James Connolly proposed “to the toilers of Ireland that it is time to make an effort to retrieve the situation and once more to raise the banner of a militant Irish labour movement upon the political field”.

The Campaign Against Household and Water Taxes is one of the most­­­ significant developments of recent years. Combined in particular with the workers occupations that have taken place (Vita Cortex in Cork is still ongoing), it indicates the emergence of new resistance from below.