Latest from SDLP
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248 releases
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Eastwood urges UK Government to intervene over BBC NI Irish-language cuts
SDLP Foyle MP Colum Eastwood has written to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy urging the UK Government to intervene over proposed BBC Northern Ireland cuts to Irish-language services, including a reported halving of its Irish-language unit staffing.
Disability and equality Issue: BBC NI Irish-language services proposed cuts announcement Original release: Eastwood urges UK Government to intervene over BBC NI Irish-language cuts (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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McGlone: BBC Cuts Demand Scrutiny
SDLP MLA Patsy McGlone seeks an urgent meeting with BBC Northern Ireland leadership over reported job losses and restructuring, wanting clarity on effects for staff, local output and Irish language services. He also plans talks with Foras na Gaeilge.
Disability and equality Economy and employment Issue: BBC Northern Ireland job losses and restructuring plans Original release: McGlone: BBC Cuts Demand Scrutiny (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP selects Gerard McDonald as Assembly Candidate for West Belfast
SDLP announces the selection of Gerard McDonald as its candidate for West Belfast at the next Assembly election, with Leader Claire Hanna MP welcoming the choice. McDonald says the Executive has failed to deliver on housing, cost of living and promised change.
Other Housing Issue: SDLP selection of Gerard McDonald for West Belfast Assembly candidacy Original release: SDLP selects Gerard McDonald as Assembly Candidate for West Belfast (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP challenges Executive over broken pledge on racial equality legislation
SDLP Opposition challenges the Executive over delayed racial equality legislation after record race hate incidents and crimes in 2025/26, and calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister to explain the delay. Its Black History Month Opposition Day motion also recognised black communities.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Executive delay to racial equality legislation following record race hate figures Original release: SDLP challenges Executive over broken pledge on racial equality legislation (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Newcastle's Bendy Tree Makes History with UK First
SDLP MLA Colin McGrath welcomes Newcastle's Bendy Tree being named UK Tree of the Year 2026 by the Woodland Trust, the first Northern Ireland tree to take the award. He has written to Newry, Mourne and Down Council asking for a permanent commemorative plaque beside it.
Environment and climate Issue: Newcastle Bendy Tree named UK Tree of the Year 2026 Original release: McGrath: Newcastle's Bendy Tree Makes History with UK First (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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McDaid: Abuse of women in public life must stop
SDLP Ballyarnett Councillor Catherine McDaid says personal abuse aimed at female public representatives, both online and in person, has to end. She says challenging misogyny must apply even to politicians whose views one opposes, and that such abuse deters people from entering public life.
Disability and equality Original release: McDaid: Abuse of women in public life must stop (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Executive must act on empty homes
SDLP Opposition Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan MLA says the Executive is failing to tackle empty homes, citing Finance Minister figures of 22,817 vacant properties as of 30 June 2026 and calling for concrete action as homelessness rises.
Housing Issue: Finance Minister figures on vacant properties across Northern Ireland, June 2026 Original release: Durkan: Executive must act on empty homes (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan challenges Executive doublespeak on homelessness prevention
SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan says Executive parties' failure to deliver the Programme for Government pledge to prevent homelessness is a betrayal of 65,000 people, after the Communities Minister confirmed the First Minister refused to table a paper prioritising homelessness prevention funding.
Housing Issue: Executive refusal to table homelessness prevention funding paper Original release: Durkan challenges Executive doublespeak on homelessness prevention (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Homelessness Commission cannot become cover for delay
SDLP Opposition Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan MLA says a planned Homelessness Commission must produce immediate action, urging Communities Minister Gordon Lyons to consider SDLP proposals for a legal prevention duty and a six-month threatened-with-homelessness window, and to address the…
Housing Original release: Durkan: Homelessness Commission cannot become cover for delay (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter: Givan’s school trousers U-turn should have come months ago
SDLP Opposition Education Spokesperson Cara Hunter MLA welcomes the Education Minister’s move to permit girls to wear trousers in school uniform, calling the U‑turn overdue, demanding an explanation for the delay and urging consistent rollout across all schools.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Minister Givan's school trousers guidance for girls Original release: Hunter: Givan’s school trousers U-turn should have come months ago (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Executive housing failures destroying the dream of homeownership
SDLP Opposition Housing Spokesperson Mark H Durkan warns that homeownership is slipping out of reach for young people, especially in the North West, and calls on the Executive to reform planning, address wastewater constraints and set a legal duty to cooperate on homelessness prevention.
Housing Economy and employment Issue: Average Northern Ireland house price reaches £202,000 Original release: Durkan: Executive housing failures destroying the dream of homeownership (opens in a new tab)
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McGlone: Reform's attack on Irish shows what a Farage future means for the North
SDLP Irish Language Spokesperson Patsy McGlone MLA condemns a Reform UK move to restrict election publications to English or Welsh, which he says would expose Irish-language campaigners to criminal sanctions. He calls the proposal absurd and offensive and says it shows Reform neither understands…
Disability and equality Issue: Reform UK Westminster amendment restricting election material to English or Welsh Original release: McGlone: Reform's attack on Irish shows what a Farage future means for the North (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna: We must challenge misogyny and racism wherever we see it
SDLP Leader and MP for Belfast South and Mid Down Claire Hanna condemns misogynistic and racist graffiti in the Sandy Row area, including messages supporting Dominique Pelicot and abuse aimed at Gisèle Pelicot. She urges people not to dismiss it as harmless.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Sandy Row misogynistic and racist graffiti condemned Original release: Hanna: We must challenge misogyny and racism wherever we see it (opens in a new tab)
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McGlone calls for focus on hate crime legislation
SDLP Opposition Justice Spokesperson Patsy McGlone MLA calls on the Executive and Justice Minister to focus on hate crime legislation after a racist display atop a Moygashel bonfire. He says he has pushed for social media to be an aggravating factor in the upcoming Sentencing Bill.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Racist images and signage on Moygashel bonfire Original release: McGlone calls for focus on hate crime legislation (opens in a new tab)
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McLaughlin calls on Finance Minister to reverse Civil Service withdrawal from Belfast Pride
SDLP MLA Sinéad McLaughlin urges the Finance Minister to overturn the Civil Service's decision to pull out of this year's Belfast Pride, arguing the legal basis cited, an English High Court judgment, does not apply in Northern Ireland.
Disability and equality Issue: Civil Service withdrawal from Pride march Original release: McLaughlin calls on Finance Minister to reverse Civil Service withdrawal from Belfast Pride (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP Opposition sets out impact of Executive Budget chaos
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA says the Executive’s inability to agree a Budget could slash almost £1bn from spending, risking thousands of nurse, teacher and police posts, delaying housing, school and university projects and threatening welfare payments, and urges action before 1
Public finance and taxation Education Issue: Executive failure to agree Budget Original release: SDLP Opposition sets out impact of Executive Budget chaos (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Affordable Rent Scheme must be fair and driven by housing need
SDLP Opposition Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan MLA welcomes the new affordable rent programme but calls for allocations to be based on housing need, fair and transparent, with clarity on how tenants are selected and on the metrics behind the 20% rent reduction.
Housing Issue: New affordable rent housing programme announcement Original release: Durkan: Affordable Rent Scheme must be fair and driven by housing need (opens in a new tab)
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O’Toole: First Ministers' response to racist riots woefully inadequate
SDLP MLA Matthew O'Toole says the First Ministers' response to last week's racist disorder is woefully inadequate, criticising the lack of an Executive Office policy and practical support for affected migrant communities and displaced families.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Belfast racist pogroms and attacks on homes, June 2026 Original release: O’Toole: First Ministers' response to racist riots woefully inadequate (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath challenges Minister on health workers' security
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says he pressed Health Minister Mike Nesbitt in an urgent Assembly question after racist disorder targeted health workers, and calls for protective measures, support for affected staff and assurances for migrant staff.
Health Justice and policing Issue: Belfast disorder after Monday knife attack Original release: McGrath challenges Minister on health workers' security (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood offers support following disorder
SDLP Foyle MP Colum Eastwood says he visited Derry's migrant community, including the North West Migrants Forum, to offer support after disorder across the North, which he attributes to racism and hatred. He says migrants belong in Derry and that the city will not tolerate racism.
Community relations and legacy Immigration Issue: Disorder across the North against migrant communities, June 2026 Original release: Eastwood offers support following disorder (opens in a new tab)