SDLP reject Commons attendance criticism

An SDLP MLA has rejected criticism of his party's attendance at Westminster after failing to arrive at the House of Commons to hear the Northern Ireland secretary's statement on the peace process.

The MP for Thurrock, Andrew Mackinlay, a regular watcher of Northern Irish affairs, said he was "sick to his back teeth" of going to debates on Northern Ireland only to discover that the SDLP had not turned up.

However, North Belfast MLA Alban McGuinness said his party went "to Westminster to make changes" and not to "make up the numbers".

He added: "The last three years have demonstrated the power of the SDLP to represent in Westminster.

"Republicans have achieved nothing at Westminster. Unionists have got their attendance allowances, the SDLP have got results that changed the face of policing and criminal justice in the north.

"People do not want representation that changes the future. It has to be asked of Unionist MP's, Sinn Fein MP's and even Scottish MP's – does your record even begin to touch what the SDLP have achieved in the last three years?"

Northern Ireland Secretary of State Paul Murphy refused to be drawn on the issue of party membership in Northern Ireland but said he would raise the non-attendance of the SDLP with the party.

(MB)