Socialist Environmental Alliance
Encyclopedia
The Socialist Environmental Alliance (SEA) is a minor political party
operating in Northern Ireland
. Based largely in the city of Derry
, they are a leftist organisation with Trotskyist
leanings. The SEA has in the past benefited from the support of the Communist Party of Ireland
and the Newtownabbey Labour Party
, although the dominant organised group within it is the Socialist Workers Party
.
The SEA contested the Northern Ireland Assembly
2003 election
in the East Londonderry
and Foyle
seats (reflecting the party's Derry base). They polled poorly in East Londonderry, with candidate Marion Baur gaining only 137 first preference votes (only 0.4% of the total), although in Foyle Eamonn McCann
managed to gain 2,257 first preference votes (5.5% of the total).
They also contested the 2004 elections to the European Parliament
, with Eamonn McCann their candidate. He managed to win 9,172 first preference votes, or 1.6% of the total cast. McCann then stood in the 2005 general election
in the Foyle constituency
, winning 3.6% of the vote.
McCann again stood for the organisation in Foyle in the Northern Ireland Assembly election, 2007
.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
operating in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. Based largely in the city of Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
, they are a leftist organisation with Trotskyist
Trotskyism
Trotskyism is the theory of Marxism as advocated by Leon Trotsky. Trotsky considered himself an orthodox Marxist and Bolshevik-Leninist, arguing for the establishment of a vanguard party of the working-class...
leanings. The SEA has in the past benefited from the support of the Communist Party of Ireland
Communist Party of Ireland
The Communist Party of Ireland is a small all-Ireland Marxist party, founded in 1933. An earlier party, the Socialist Party of Ireland, was renamed the Communist Party of Ireland in 1921 on its affiliation to the Communist International but was dissolved in 1924. The present-day CPI was founded in...
and the Newtownabbey Labour Party
Newtownabbey Labour Party
The Newtownabbey Labour Party is a minor political party based in Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland.The party originated as the Newtownabbey branch of the Northern Ireland Labour Party. It left its parent organisation in the 1970s...
, although the dominant organised group within it is the Socialist Workers Party
Socialist Workers Party (Ireland)
The Socialist Workers Party is an Irish Trotskyist political party.-Foundation and growth:The SWP was originally founded in 1971 as the Socialist Workers Movement by supporters of the International Socialists of Britain living in Northern Ireland, who had previously been members of People's...
.
The SEA contested the Northern Ireland Assembly
Northern Ireland Assembly
The Northern Ireland Assembly is the devolved legislature of Northern Ireland. It has power to legislate in a wide range of areas that are not explicitly reserved to the Parliament of the United Kingdom, and to appoint the Northern Ireland Executive...
2003 election
Northern Ireland Assembly election, 2003
The second elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly, which at the time of the elections had been suspended for just over a year, were held on Wednesday 26 November 2003. Six members were elected by Single Transferable Vote from each of Northern Ireland's eighteen Westminster Parliamentary...
in the East Londonderry
East Londonderry (Assembly constituency)
East Londonderry is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Forum in 1996...
and Foyle
Foyle (Assembly constituency)
Foyle is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Forum in 1996. Since 1998, it has elected members to the current Assembly....
seats (reflecting the party's Derry base). They polled poorly in East Londonderry, with candidate Marion Baur gaining only 137 first preference votes (only 0.4% of the total), although in Foyle Eamonn McCann
Eamonn McCann
Eamonn McCann is an Irish journalist, author and political activist.-Life:McCann was born and has lived most of his life in Derry. He was educated at St. Columb's College in the city. He is prominently featured in the documentary film The Boys of St...
managed to gain 2,257 first preference votes (5.5% of the total).
They also contested the 2004 elections to the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
, with Eamonn McCann their candidate. He managed to win 9,172 first preference votes, or 1.6% of the total cast. McCann then stood in the 2005 general election
United Kingdom general election, 2005
The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005 to elect 646 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party under Tony Blair won its third consecutive victory, but with a majority of 66, reduced from 160....
in the Foyle constituency
Foyle (UK Parliament constituency)
Foyle is a Parliamentary Constituency in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom.-Boundaries:The seat was created in boundary changes in 1983, as part of an expansion of Northern Ireland's constituencies from 12 to 17, and was predominantly made up from the old Londonderry constituency...
, winning 3.6% of the vote.
McCann again stood for the organisation in Foyle in the Northern Ireland Assembly election, 2007
Northern Ireland Assembly election, 2007
The third elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly were held on 7 March 2007 when 108 new members were elected. The election saw endorsement of the St Andrews Agreement and the two largest parties, the Democratic Unionist Party and Sinn Féin, along with the Alliance Party, increase their...
.