Summary

  • The SDLP leader is to address delegates at its annual conference

  • It will be her second conference speech as leader of the party

  • The party is meeting in south Belfast

Media caption,

Claire Hanna's full conference speech

  1. Key points from today's speechpublished at 14:41 BST 4 October

    • Focussing on criticism of Stormont delivery, Claire Hanna said SF and DUP are "allergic to responsibility", "neither in the driving seat" and also criticised the Alliance party for being "along for the ride".
    • Called on the Irish government to create a ministry for a “New Ireland” in order to plan for a border poll.
    • She says 'New Ireland' could be cultural superpower.
    • Described Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, as an "agent of chaos" and "a man who'll wrap himself up in the Union flag but still do you an 'Up the Ra' video if the price is right".
  2. Goodbye and thank you for joiningpublished at 14:40 BST 4 October

    That's all from us. Thank you for following our live coverage of SDLP Leader, Claire Hanna's conference speech.

    Hanna will be live on Sunday Politics tomorrow morning. That's at 10:00 BST on BBC One Northern Ireland and BBC iPlayer.

  3. Calls for a 'New Ireland Ministry'published at 14:39 BST 4 October

    Hanna calls to the Irish and British governments to begin planning for constitutional change and to "give a New Ireland the focus it deserves with a new Ministry in the south."

    She says the Ministry will give a structure for all island dialogue and will be "a forum where all of the voices are welcome, but no view can stop play. Preparing for a future that might be closer than many of us think."

  4. 'New Ireland' could be 'cultural superpower'published at 14:34 BST 4 October

    Another of Hanna's main themes is her vision of Northern Ireland and the Republic unified in what she calls a 'New Ireland'.

    "A New Ireland brings a future and a focus on opportunity. Of deeper economic integration – wider horizons, connections, innovation. The opportunity to redesign public services, building the best of both systems for the benefit of all.

    "Thinking beyond the next election. A cultural superpower. Being proud of what’s done in our name on the world stage.

    "The chance of a new shared identity - outward-looking and compassionate, soulful and robust, forged from history, ready for the future."

  5. 'Looming over it all, Nigel Farage'published at 14:33 BST 4 October

    In echoes of Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Hanna also takes aim at the leader of the Reform UK, saying that "Britain is more at odds with our values...with barely the energy to care about people who live here and looming over it all is Nigel Farage, who has never hidden his complete disinterest in this place."

    She described Farage as a "high priest of Brexit", an "architect of chaos" and "a man who'll wrap himself in a Union flag but still do you an 'Up the Ra' video if the price is right"

  6. 'Force the Executive to do what it's meant to do'published at 14:30 BST 4 October

    Hanna pledges the SDLP will "force the Executive to do what it can, what it's meant to do, what it said it would do".

    "The change and the reform we heard so much about at the last election hasn't really moved an inch. Power, won by promises at the ballot box, neglected to actually use.

    "Devolution was meant to show the possibility of power in local hands, it was meant to build a case for the future by delivering in the here and now."

  7. 'Allergic to responsibility'published at 14:27 BST 4 October

    Pre-conference coverage has focussed on Hanna's move to criticise not only Sinn Féin and DUP, but also the Alliance party.

    She says they are: "In government, but are they truly in power...who have the tools, but not the will to use them."

    "Two parties neither in the driving seat, both allergic to responsibility. A third seemingly along for the ride, no mind the destination."

  8. Executive 'must be judged a failure'published at 14:27 BST 4 October

    Hanna says the driving cause of the SDLP is to fight for opportunities for everyone, which means good jobs to support families, affordable childcare and access to health services when needed. She says "If the Executive is judged on these tests, it must be judged a failure".

  9. 'Politics here is holding our people back...'published at 14:24 BST 4 October

    One of Hanna's main lines of attack is on Stormont delivery.

    "Successes...in spite of government - certainly not because of it. Yes, we have peace - but we don’t yet have reconciliation. Yes, we have equality in law - but not all has the chance to succeed. Yes, we have North South structures - that are just going through the motions. Yes, we have power shared out - but no one can call it good government."

  10. Hanna's Stormont FOMOpublished at 14:20 BST 4 October

    Claire Hanna opens her speech with a mention to her Stormont colleagues, "led by the unwavering Matthew O'Toole". She even admitted she had a tiny bit of fear of missing out (FOMO) at not being an MLA.

  11. Executive allergic to responsibility, SDLP leader to saypublished at 13:19 BST 4 October

    Northern Ireland's main power-sharing parties are "allergic to responsibility" and are holding back progress, Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) leader Claire Hanna is expected to say later on Saturday.

    She is due to address the party's annual conference in Belfast shortly, her second since becoming party leader last year.

  12. Welcomepublished at 13:05 BST 4 October

    Welcome to our live coverage of leader Claire Hanna's speech to the SDLP party conference. She's expected to start her speech at about 14:00 BST.