SDLP To Enter Official Opposition

The SDLP has joined the UUP and announced it is to form a constructive opposition at Stormont.

This means the new government could be made up of only the DUP and Sinn Fein.

SDLP Party Leader Colum Eastwood said: "Entering into opposition is not an easy decision to make, particularly for a Nationalist party in the North. Since partition, our community was long denied power in this very building and therefore we have long been in opposition. That memory runs deep.

"But those were different days and this is a different Ireland.

"Change is as constant a feature in politics as it is in life. Those who oppose such change will find themselves pushing against an ocean of opinion and positioned on the wrong side of history.

"We wish the First and deputy First Ministers well in the time ahead. The privilege of power has been bestowed upon them by the people of Northern Ireland."

Meanwhile, the Alliance Party Council has overwhelmingly voted not to nominate an MLA to become Justice Minister.

Over 120 party council delegates supported the party leadership's position, which followed the DUP and Sinn Fein's rejection of Alliance's proposals based on its 'five steps' from its manifesto.

Deputy Leader Naomi Long said: "Members endorsed the proposals which we submitted to DUP and Sinn Fein which they recognised would have radically changed Northern Ireland in terms of governance, building an integrated society, strengthening our economy, dealing with the costs of division and crucially addressing legacy issues and paramilitarism to allow our community to move forward.

"Given the DUP and Sinn Fein response to those proposals, the view of leadership was that we could not recommend an Alliance MLA to take the Justice Minister role."

Sinn Féin said it would be focusing to conclude discussions on forming the new Executive.

Leader Gerry Adams said the party will work to achieve the genuine partnership approach people clearly want.

Mr Adams said: "The SDLP and the UUP have chosen to go into opposition. They should have told the people that during the election.

"These were the two lead parties in government for nine years and they made a mess of it. The political institutions were suspended twice and crashed twice and were down for almost five years over that nine-year period.

"Sinn Féin did not walk away, instead we faced up to the challenges."

(CD)