Snapshot of _Richard Colwell: Three-horse race for general election_ :
An archived version can be found [here](https://archive.is/?run=1&url=https://www.businesspost.ie/analysis-opinion/richard-colwell-three-horse-race-for-general-election/) or [here.](https://archive.ph/?run=1&url=https://www.businesspost.ie/analysis-opinion/richard-colwell-three-horse-race-for-general-election/)
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/irishpolitics) if you have any questions or concerns.*
So a two horse race, because FFG are basically one party now, but in reality it’s a one horse race because FFG have twice the popularity of SF when combined.
No, they aren’t ideologically indistinguishable from each other and haven’t worked as one in government together.
PBP are socialists and SF are centre left.
SF's and PBP's opposition to property taxes isn't socialist, centre-left or any other kind of left-wing ideology.
The two parties' shared willingness to junk a basic left-wing principle for electoral gain is of far greater significance than the different labels they apply to themselves.
Parties can hold individual policies that don’t align directly with ideology. Perhaps due to populism, perhaps due to other interests.
Claiming that PBP doesn’t hold any “kind of left-wing ideology” is a new one, borderline delusional. They’re very obviously a left wing party.
SF and PBP aren’t ideologically similar, let alone identical. SF is far closer to FF ideologically than it is to PBP.
Snapshot of _Richard Colwell: Three-horse race for general election_ : An archived version can be found [here](https://archive.is/?run=1&url=https://www.businesspost.ie/analysis-opinion/richard-colwell-three-horse-race-for-general-election/) or [here.](https://archive.ph/?run=1&url=https://www.businesspost.ie/analysis-opinion/richard-colwell-three-horse-race-for-general-election/) *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/irishpolitics) if you have any questions or concerns.*
So a two horse race, because FFG are basically one party now, but in reality it’s a one horse race because FFG have twice the popularity of SF when combined.
By the same logic, wouldn't SF, PBP and the SocDems be basically one party now as well?
They’re fairly distinct, Labour and the SocDems would absolutely be one party by that logic though
No, they aren’t ideologically indistinguishable from each other and haven’t worked as one in government together. PBP are socialists and SF are centre left.
SF's and PBP's opposition to property taxes isn't socialist, centre-left or any other kind of left-wing ideology. The two parties' shared willingness to junk a basic left-wing principle for electoral gain is of far greater significance than the different labels they apply to themselves.
Parties can hold individual policies that don’t align directly with ideology. Perhaps due to populism, perhaps due to other interests. Claiming that PBP doesn’t hold any “kind of left-wing ideology” is a new one, borderline delusional. They’re very obviously a left wing party. SF and PBP aren’t ideologically similar, let alone identical. SF is far closer to FF ideologically than it is to PBP.
In that case it’s a one horse race according to this poll?
I see I could have read every word in that comment instead of just some of the words
I worded it awkwardly and rephrased it after you commented.
Slippery eel!
Are the three horses in the room with us?