NI politics: SDLP to form official opposition at Stormont

The Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) has confirmed it will form the official opposition at Stormont.

The party has written to the assembly Speaker informing him of the move.

Following disappointing election results in May, the party lost its right to nominate a minister to the executive.

Party leader Colum Eastwood said he has formally nominated South Belfast assembly member Matthew O'Toole to lead the opposition.

Mr O'Toole has encouraged other parties, particularly the Alliance Party and Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), to join the SDLP in forming an opposition.

"Our opposition to the politics of division and deadlock which has infected Stormont is about transforming this place and the lives of all its citizens. And my appeal to others is that if you've had enough of the failure, then join us. We can build something much better together," he said.

Under provisions agreed by the Stormont parties for an official opposition the SDLP can expect to receive about £60,000 to be spent on research plus £20,000 for the operation of a whips' office.

The party will also gain extra speaking rights in the Assembly chamber and will be the first in line to question ministers.

It will also be entitled to hold the chair of the key scrutiny body the Public Accounts Committee and it will be able to set the agenda in the Assembly for 10 days per year.

The SDLP retained eight seats in May's assembly elections, down from 12

Speaking to BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster Mr O'Toole said that he had not taken part in talks with members of other parties but it was "their decision" to join.

"What we have seen since the election, is the refusal of the DUP to form an executive and allow government to be done," he said.

"But we do have ministers, those who are entitled to hold onto ministries, still there taking decisions which are meaningful for people's lives, we also have a cost of living crisis and we have a health care crisis, those are the things that people are focused on".

Mr O'Toole said that the formation of an official opposition was important to "holding decisions to account".

"Now is the time that we start to deliver meaningful constructive politics and opposition to the kind of gridlock and destruction that we have seen often in Stormont", he added.

Mr Eastwood, who sits in the House of Commons, said the SDLP would provide a "constructive alternative to the politics of division, deadlock and failure".

The party won eight seats in May's election, four fewer than before.

It is not the first time the party has been in opposition at the assembly after it, along with the UUP, did not nominate ministers to the executive in May 2016.

Both parties returned to the executive in January 2020 after power sharing was restored.

The assembly was set to be be recalled on Tuesday for the third time in another attempt to nominate a speaker after the SDLP's successful petition.

But that will not now go ahead after former first minister and UUP leader Lord Trimble died.

The assembly has not been sitting full time because the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has refused to vote for a Speaker.

The party is refusing to re-enter power sharing as part of its protest over the Northern Ireland Protocol.