People Before Profit say 'we will be throwing ourselves into this campaign' ahead of General Election

People Before Profit have said that they will be throwing themselves into the General Election campaign ahead of the vote on June 8th.

Representatives of Eamon McCann have been contacted by Derry Now but he has yet to confirm whether he intends to stand for Foyle in the forthcoming election.

Belfast West People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll wished Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn well and said PBP candidates would work with him if elected.

Mr Carroll said: "Theresa May has called an early Westminster election. Despite the fact that she promised she wouldn’t call an election, PBP support any exercise in democracy and we will be throwing ourselves into this campaign.

"In a world where decisions are made by fewer and fewer people, any move to allow people to have their say should be welcomed. But we should be clear that for Theresa May, democracy is a play thing. Calling this election was a cynical move, designed to shore up her own support.

"Everything she and the Tories do is cynically thought out. The Tories have no core principles, except supporting the elites and the wealthy.

"Theresa May supported remain in the EU referendum, not because she gave a damn about Europe but because she saw it was a means to strengthen the hand of the British elites. Theresa May now has changed her position, so that she may shape Brexit in the interests of the British elites.

"But Theresa May has a problem; the arrogant and undemocratic manner in which the Tories are going about it, is causing people to stand up. People in Scotland are demanding independence and people here are demanding they have a say over their future.

"The Westminster election poses the possibility of outing the Tories. PBP wish Jeremy Corbyn well. He is a socialist, as are we in PBP, and we can find common ground. Should any of our candidates be elected, we would join with him and others to block the Tories right wing agenda. We would also demand a veto for the North, Scotland and Wales on any Brexit deal, and call for the North to be treated as a special case that would ensure no return to a hard border.

"However we know that this election won’t solve the underlying crisis of the elites. Britain is fast becoming a failed state and any progressive should welcome its demise. This election, therefore, is an opportunity to advance a vision of a new Ireland, a different Ireland, a socialist Ireland. The kind of Ireland that James Connolly stood for; that is neither Protestant nor Catholic, nor ravaged by inequality and bigotry, but is instead based on unity, anti-sectarianism and equitable distribution of our resources by and for the people. PBP will be articulating the need for this kind of vision in the days ahead."