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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| NI Assembly: SDLP to go into opposition | NI Assembly: SDLP to go into opposition |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| SDLP leader Colum Eastwood has announced that the party will go into opposition in Northern Ireland. | SDLP leader Colum Eastwood has announced that the party will go into opposition in Northern Ireland. |
| They are the second party to announce that they will not join the DUP and Sinn Féin in the Stormont executive. | They are the second party to announce that they will not join the DUP and Sinn Féin in the Stormont executive. |
| Last week the UUP said they would do the same. | Last week the UUP said they would do the same. |
| Earlier, the First and Deputy First Minister accused the SDLP of being "dishonest" during Stormont's programme for government negotiations. | Earlier, the First and Deputy First Minister accused the SDLP of being "dishonest" during Stormont's programme for government negotiations. |
| 'Constructive opposition' | 'Constructive opposition' |
| It followed Mr Eastwood saying he was "very disappointed" over the talks. | It followed Mr Eastwood saying he was "very disappointed" over the talks. |
| Making his announcement on Thursday, Mr Eastwood said: "It is clear that the DUP and Sinn Féin are determined to put forward a framework that includes no action, nothing that they can be held accountable for or to." | Making his announcement on Thursday, Mr Eastwood said: "It is clear that the DUP and Sinn Féin are determined to put forward a framework that includes no action, nothing that they can be held accountable for or to." |
| Analysis by BBC Ireland Correspondent Chris Buckler | Analysis by BBC Ireland Correspondent Chris Buckler |
| Stormont has just become a much more open political battleground. | Stormont has just become a much more open political battleground. |
| With the SDLP and the Ulster Unionists both choosing to go into opposition rather than government the assembly is a very different place. | With the SDLP and the Ulster Unionists both choosing to go into opposition rather than government the assembly is a very different place. |
| Up to now, most rows have been within the family of the all-encompassing power-sharing government. Which is not to say that at times the disputes weren't bitter. Then again most in-fighting within families is. | Up to now, most rows have been within the family of the all-encompassing power-sharing government. Which is not to say that at times the disputes weren't bitter. Then again most in-fighting within families is. |
| But now there will be big parties openly heckling and challenging decisions from the outside. | But now there will be big parties openly heckling and challenging decisions from the outside. |
| That is a major change and some commentators will claim that it could lead to better politics and policy being more aggressively tested. | That is a major change and some commentators will claim that it could lead to better politics and policy being more aggressively tested. |
| However, that all depends on getting the executive working again and the Alliance Party's decision to turn down the justice ministry is a problem. | However, that all depends on getting the executive working again and the Alliance Party's decision to turn down the justice ministry is a problem. |
| The DUP and Sinn Fein need to find a mutually acceptable candidate to take up the politically sensitive post. | The DUP and Sinn Fein need to find a mutually acceptable candidate to take up the politically sensitive post. |
| In Northern Ireland which politician takes responsibility for policing and prisons is important. | In Northern Ireland which politician takes responsibility for policing and prisons is important. |
| The fact that the first and deputy first ministers have had conversations with an independent MLA and the Green Party indicates they are looking at every option. | The fact that the first and deputy first ministers have had conversations with an independent MLA and the Green Party indicates they are looking at every option. |
| He said the SDLP would work with anyone who was happy to work with them but "this will be a positive and constructive opposition, not opposition for opposition's sake." | He said the SDLP would work with anyone who was happy to work with them but "this will be a positive and constructive opposition, not opposition for opposition's sake." |
| In a statement, UUP Leader, Mike Nesbitt, said he was "delighted" that the SDLP had chosen to go into opposition. | In a statement, UUP Leader, Mike Nesbitt, said he was "delighted" that the SDLP had chosen to go into opposition. |
| He said: "I am confident it will lead to new beginnings and possibilities for devolved government. | He said: "I am confident it will lead to new beginnings and possibilities for devolved government. |
| 'Walked away' | 'Walked away' |
| "We have been heartened by the extraordinary level of support which we received since we made our decision last Thursday and I am sure the SDLP will receive similar praise and encouragement." | "We have been heartened by the extraordinary level of support which we received since we made our decision last Thursday and I am sure the SDLP will receive similar praise and encouragement." |
| Sinn Féin MLA, Conor Murphy, said the SDLP had "walked away" from its responsibility to the electorate and had been led by the UUP into opposition. | Sinn Féin MLA, Conor Murphy, said the SDLP had "walked away" from its responsibility to the electorate and had been led by the UUP into opposition. |
| "By walking away from the executive, it is clear the SDLP has abandoned its responsibility to the electorate," he said. | "By walking away from the executive, it is clear the SDLP has abandoned its responsibility to the electorate," he said. |
| "On the back of yet another poor election, the SDLP has now turned its back on the Good Friday Agreement. | "On the back of yet another poor election, the SDLP has now turned its back on the Good Friday Agreement. |
| "Their excuse that they did not understand the Programme for Government process is both dishonest and contradicted by their engagement in that process since December." | "Their excuse that they did not understand the Programme for Government process is both dishonest and contradicted by their engagement in that process since December." |
| DUP leader, Arlene Foster, said the smaller parties were searching for "relevance" following the election on 5 May. |