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Northern Ireland
Will the new agreement last?
THE MEDIA had pictures on 26 March of 'old enemies' Ian Paisley of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Gerry Adams of Sinn Fein reaching an agreement to return power sharing to the Northern Ireland Assembly from 8 May.
The agreement was not friendly enough to allow them to shake hands. Paisley, Adams and the rest of the politicians had their minds concentrated, however, by the threat to suspend the Assembly (and their parliamentary incomes) if no agreement was reached before the 26 March deadline.
Few people have any hope of long-term success for this Assembly. The elections in March reflected the present sectarian divides of Northern Irish society. The coalition which may emerge after 8 May would be dominated by Paisley as first minister and Martin McGuiness of Sinn Fein as deputy.
An article in a future issue of the socialist will take up such questions as: Will the agreement last? Will there be splits on issues such as policing? What kind of social policy will this Assembly come up with - will it be more of the right-wing policies of cuts and privatisation that the DUP, Sinn Fein and other capitalist parties have eagerly embraced?
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The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.
The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.
The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.
- The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
- When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.
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