SDLP leader, Colum Eastwood, has stated that his political party is “here to stay” despite recent setbacks in the Northern Irish Assembly election. In an interview with BBC News, Eastwood emphasized that the SDLP has a significant history and a strong vision for the future of Northern Ireland. The party has faced criticism in recent years for not being able to secure significant gains in the election, but Eastwood remains confident that they will continue to play an important role in Northern Irish politics for years to come.
The leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), Colum Eastwood, has declared that his party is “here to stay” despite facing a “bruising electoral contest” in last May’s assembly election. Speaking at the SDLP’s annual conference in Londonderry, Eastwood urged his supporters not to be deterred by political “naysayers” and to focus on the party’s long-term political strategy of reimagining the country. He also criticised the “poisonous politics of veto” at Stormont and accused the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) of being “wreckers” of the institutions.
Eastwood claimed that the SDLP could bring together an “unstoppable coalition” by urging an end to the “poisonous politics of veto” and tackling the issue of power-sharing at Stormont. Sharing power, he said, was the “engine” of Stormont and not an “optional extra”. He went on to accuse the DUP of “digging its heels in” over the Northern Ireland Protocol and warned that if the party refused to return to power-sharing, the “only alternative” would be a new settlement between London and Dublin. Eastwood argued that the choice facing the DUP was not about the protocol or framework, but whether they “can share power with their neighbours”.
The SDLP leader called on his party to win again, stating that the adversity they face now is nothing compared to the adversity the party had shouldered in the past. He noted that the party’s commission for a new Ireland was shifting gear and that they would work towards reimagining the country. He emphasised that this was when the party was at its best – when it could bring together an unstoppable coalition.
Eastwood’s speech was timely given the long-standing issues of power-sharing and the debate surrounding the Northern Ireland Protocol agreement between the UK and the EU. It has been a difficult time for Northern Ireland, with the threat of customs checks down the Irish Sea posing a potential threat to day-to-day trade in both directions. However, Eastwood remains optimistic that his party can help lead the way towards a successful future for Northern Ireland.
It is clear that Eastwood is keen to rejuvenate the SDLP and consolidate its standing as a credible political voice, with the party having faced its fair share of challenges over the years. As the UK enters a period of change and uncertainty, there is potential for the SDLP to make its voice heard, providing a positive and constructive contribution to political discourse in Northern Ireland. The challenge will be to translate Eastwood’s words into effective action, as the party moves forward with its vision for the future of the country.
