ANTI-austerity campaigner Joe Murphy from Inishowen has declared that he will fight the 2014 local elections under the banner of the People Before Profit Alliance.
It is expected that the number of PBPA candidates will rise before the elections as PBPA have previously stated that they would also be standing candidates in the Letterkenny and Donegal Town electoral areas.
Murphy told Donegal Daily: “This now gives the people of Donegal an alternative, united voice across the county against the destructive policies of Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil, and Labour.
“The people of Donegal are ready for change and want to move away from tired old political rhetoric to a truly representative voice of the ordinary man and woman in Donegal, regardless of age, gender, race or colour.
“People Before Profit Alliance gives me an opportunity to operate as part of a rapidly growing national network as an alternative to the established Austerity parties that don’t really care about the plight of the vulnerable and the poor in the country.
“This alliance gives me the ability to have a local voice at national level. My first allegiance is and always will be to the principles of DAAA. People Before Profit does not have a party whip system, as in other parties, and their elected candidates are open to immediate re-call should they not represent the best interests of their local members.”
Murphy added: “I cannot stand by any longer and watch the devastation of our local communities in Donegal through imposed poverty on our elderly and the forced emigration of our youth.
“And the coalition’s open warfare on young people, in the slashing of their dole to €100 – supposedly to encourage them to take up jobs that aren’t there, and in reality only encouraging them to emigrate to countries that value them more than this pitiful government does. Fine Gael are nothing but barbaric, cynical bullies.
“They are driving the elderly to despair by the removal of medical cards. They have taken away their right to a telephone at home which is their lifeline, especially in rural communities. And, by their reduction in the provision of home help services, this is just pure unadulterated terrorism against these vulnerable people. Those with disability have also been very badly hit and I will also represent them to the best of my ability.
“I will fight against injustice committed against our people. The interests of the people of Donegal will come first with us, long before the interests of super-wealthy bondholders, banks and large corporations. The Fine Gael/Labour government has made a big mistake in awakening the fire within the belly of Donegal people.”
Tags: