It is “inevitable” that the Labour Party and Social Democrats will merge, Pat Rabbitte has predicted. 

The Social Democrats were founded in 2015 by two former Labour politicians Catherine Murphy and Róisín Shortall. 

In the election the following year, the party campaigned hard for the votes of those on the centre-left who had grown disillusioned with Labour due to their support for austerity measures. 

Speaking on the The Anton Savage Show: Elections 2024, the former Labour leader and minister said the two parties had a lot in common. 

“The division is purely personality,” Mr Rabbitte said. 

“As you know, the Soc Dems were founded by former Labour people - for whom I’ve a lot of regard. 

“But that’s the only distinction, there isn’t a cigarette paper of difference in policy between the two of them. 

“I don’t think it will happen this side of a General Election - but, inevitably as occurred in the 50s, it will happen down the road because it doesn’t make any sense. 

“It’s a waste of combined resources and so on. 

“It looks like that chunk of Labour, Green and Soc Dem [support] is holding up in this election - notwithstanding the expectation that was out there.” 

Social Democrats TD Holly Cairns on the Plinth at Leinster House. Image: Sasko Lazarov / RollingNews

Irish Independent Editor Kevin Doyle said if the two parties merged, they would be a more “coherent” force in Irish politics. 

“They would now actually be challenging Sinn Féin to be the opposition,” he predicted. 

“Because they’re probably between them going to bring in 8% to 10% but because you split it as a kind of 4.5% to 5% each, they look like two minor parties. 

“If they’d have been able to come together… It’s actually a very compelling ticket if they could put those personalities aside. 

“Maybe they can’t do that while Róisín Shortall and Catherine [Murphy] are still there but I think after [election] the opening is there for them.” 

'Somewhat frustrating' talk of Labour - Soc Dems merger

In January, Labour leader Ivana Bacik said she disliked being asked about a merger. 

“There's been a good deal of speculation this week and it’s somewhat frustrating for me as leader to be constantly asked this," she said. 

“’Why don’t you merge, there’s no ideological difference’ - my response is why don’t you ask Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil the same? 

“There's no ideological difference between them – they've been in Government together or propping each other up now for eight years. 

“A merger there would make so much more sense than a merger of any other party.” 

However, there is historical precedence for a merger; Labour merged with the Democratic Left in 1999.

Main image: Former Labour Party leader leader Pat Rabbitte. Picture by: Leon Farrell/© RollingNews.ie