The National Labour Party was founded to prevent control of the workers' political organisation passing into the hands of Communists and others with an alien outlook.
The National Labour Party stands for full national and economic freedom for every citizen; for the full utilisation of the man-power and natural resources of this country in the interests of the whole people: for co-operation with all who are willing to strive for a social and economic system, Irish in inspiration and Christian in effect.
[9][10][11][12][13][14] Presiding at a meeting of the provisional executive of the party in March 1944, Thomas Foran expressed its "unqualified support" of Irish neutrality and condemned a declaration of the Communist Party of Ireland "expressing approval of the attempt to force this country to abandon neutrality.
"[18] The Catholic press supported the ITGWU's allegations, which were founded on James Larkin's communist activities in groups like the Irish Worker League.
At a meeting in Rathdowney, Labour politician William Davin criticised the new party in the aftermath of the election, referring to them as "disruptionist" and told his audience that he strongly resented being called a communist by "certain persons who did not bother to go to church or chapel either on Sundays or weekdays.
"[20] In response, National Labour stated that "Mr Davin and his colleagues short-circuited any kind of unbiased inquisition by setting up a tribunal of their own on which those very people charged with complicity in the Communist fusion sat as the judges and assessors."
They also stated that "those who wrecked the Labour Party four years ago, and had previously, by their policy of intrigue sought to make it their mouthpiece for Communist propaganda, cannot be permitted to continue their activities under cover of a democratic political organisation."
National Labour was represented at cabinet level by James Everett, now its leader, as Minister for Posts and Telegraphs.
Co-operation in government, the retirement of O'Brien and the death of Larkin removed the causes of animosity from the labour movement.