Vote Left, Transfer Left
Vote Left, Transfer Left is a political phrase in Irish politics which gained prominence during the 2020 Irish general election and has been used thereafter. It encourages shared support among left-wing political parties via the single transferable vote electoral system.[1] In some cases, it has been codified into a formal electoral pact between candidates.
Background
[edit]The 2020 general election, "Vote Left, Transfer Left" was discussed among voters of Sinn Féin, the Green Party, People Before Profit, Social Democrats and independent candidates.[2][3] The pact encourages left-wing voters to transfer their votes to other left-wing parties.[4] There was evidence of such transfers in counts for the 2024 general election.[5] People Before Profit openly endorsed the pact in their manifesto.[6] The vote transfers had evidently increased since the 2016 general election.[7] Following the 2025 presidential election, debate of a pact emerged for the next general election.[8]
2026 by-elections
[edit]A "Vote Left, Transfer Left" pact was used in the 2026 Galway West by-election. Following the election of Catherine Connolly as president of Ireland, a new Galway-based political group called Tonn na Clé (Left Wave) began promoting a "vote left, transfer left" pact.[9] In March 2026, it was reported that six candidates in Galway West proposed to agree a "Vote Left, Transfer Left" pact.[10][11]
It was promoted by the People Before Profit candidate in the 2026 Dublin Central by-election.[12] Five candidates attended Connigh Clé (Keep Left) events and endorsed the idea of a transfer pact but fell short of agreeing to a formal pact as had been done in Galway.[13]
Following the by-election results, Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns celebrated the strength of the pact in the by-elections and endorsed the idea of similar pacts in future elections.[14][15][16] In May 2026, she ruled out any formal left-wing alliance ahead of the next general election.[17]
References
[edit]- ↑ Burne, Louise (1 May 2024). "People Before Profit call for 'vote left transfer left' pact but excludes Labour". Irish Mirror. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
- ↑ "Vote Left, Transfer Left?". Connolly Youth Movement. Archived from the original on 3 August 2025. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
- ↑ "Transfers - success of 'vote left, transfer left'". Kilkenny Live. 19 February 2020. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
- ↑ "Post-Connolly alliance seeks long-term change to left-wing politics". The Irish Times. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
- ↑ Müller, Stefan (17 November 2024). "The Poll of Polls and transfer patterns". RTÉ News.
- ↑ "People Before Profit call on 'all parties of the Left' not to prop up Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil in next government". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 8 April 2025. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
- ↑ Projections, Irish Election (5 April 2021). "The Impact of 'Vote Left Transfer Left' in GE2020". Irish Election Projections. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
- ↑ Heston, Joseph (28 January 2026). "The arrival of a 'United Left' in Irish politics is not a foregone conclusion". Trinity News. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
- ↑ Cullen, Róisín (22 March 2026). "Left wave looking to beat Govt in Galway West by-election". RTÉ News.
- ↑ "United Left Emerged in Galway West Bye-Election". universitytimes.ie. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
- ↑ Kelly, Maxim (26 March 2026). "Six candidates agree historic election pact". Galway Advertiser. Retrieved 26 March 2026.
- ↑ Ceannabháin, Eoghan Ó (13 March 2026). "Dublin Central left win could help end century of FF and FG government". Dublin Live. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
- ↑ Matthews, Jane (24 April 2026). "Candidates call for left transfer pact as Dublin Central competition gets off to friendly start". The Journal.ie. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
- ↑ Ryan, Órla (25 May 2026). "Left-wing Irish government 'within touching distance', says Holly Cairns". The Irish Times.
- ↑ Moore, Jane (24 May 2026). "Sinn Féin 'at a crossroads' and 'need to figure out where they're going', Holly Cairns says". The Journal.ie.
- ↑ Ní Aodha, Gráinne (24 May 2026). "Opposition parties question 'mixed message' from Sinn Fein after by-elections". Belfast Telegraph.
- ↑ Moloney, Aisling (31 May 2026). "Soc Dems leader Holly Cairns rules out formal left-wing alliance". Irish Independent. Retrieved 31 May 2026.