Left-wing group RISE joins People Before Profit in unifying move

Left-wing group RISE has announced it has joined People Before Profit after members of both organisations voted in favour of the move.

In their joint statement, RISE and People Before Profit described the move as “a significant and extremely positive step forward in the project to build a broad political force for working people and eco-socialism.”

RISE TD Paul Murphy said: “All of us in RISE are excited to be joining People Before Profit to help build the left challenge to Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael rule and the capitalist system.

“It’s clear that people voted for change in the last election and the disastrous policies of the government over the last year only underscore the need for the socialist left to come together to help kick them out.”

Deputy Murphy said that People Before Profit “is a party that does what it says: it puts people’s needs, including our environment, before the profits of big business.”

PBP TD Bríd Smith said it is appealing to everybody who are “sick and tired of this government dragging its feet,” on various issues to join the party.

“We need to build the biggest possible challenge not only to this government, but also to stop the growing far right groups and their racist ideas.

“We have been campaigning before it was fashionable or popular for abortion & LGBTQ rights and the separation of church and state.

“We have been at the forefront in campaigning for radical climate action, bringing forward the first Dail bills to ban fracking and fossil fuel extraction, proposals for free, green and frequent public transport and legally binding CO2 emission reduction targets.”

Richard Boyd Barrett TD said: “for some time already, People Before Profit and RISE have been ahead of the curve and leading the way on issues such as campaigning for a left government, restoring the pension age to 65, supporting workers such as Debenhams workers, student nurses, artists, musicians, taxi drivers and others.”