Latest from SDLP
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299 releases
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McGrath: PSNI Officers Betrayed the Trust of All
SDLP Policing Board representative Colin McGrath MLA condemns PSNI officers' treatment of vulnerable members of the public, as exposed in a Police Ombudsman investigation. He says he will demand answers from the Chief Constable on how the conduct continued and what safeguards have been strengthened.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: PSNI officers dismissed for mistreating vulnerable people Original release: McGrath: PSNI Officers Betrayed the Trust of All (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 13 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter: Irish Language Bill Veto Exposes Urgent Need for Stormont Reform
SDLP Education Spokesperson Cara Hunter MLA condemns the move to block the Irish‑medium Education Bill with a Petition of Concern, calling it a cynical power grab and urging Stormont reform to protect education for the 7,800+ children in Irish‑medium schools.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Petition of Concern blocks Irish-medium Education Bill Original release: Hunter: Irish Language Bill Veto Exposes Urgent Need for Stormont Reform (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 12 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter: School Holidays Shouldn't Mean Hunger
SDLP Education Spokesperson Cara Hunter MLA backs the Holiday Hunger Bill, which would keep Free School Meals support for eligible children during school holidays, and calls on the Executive to fund it.
Social security and welfare Education Issue: Holiday Hunger Bill backing for Free School Meals during school holidays Original release: Hunter: School Holidays Shouldn't Mean Hunger (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 12 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Working Families Paying Price for Executive Failure on School Meals
SDLP Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan MLA criticises a further rise in school meal costs, saying working families are bearing the impact of Executive dysfunction and the lack of a Budget. He questions the cost gap with England and calls for procurement transparency.
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Education Authority school meal price increase to £3.40 Original release: Durkan: Working Families Paying Price for Executive Failure on School Meals (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 12 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna: Budget must deliver support now and invest in Northern Ireland's future
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP writes to the Chancellor ahead of the Budget, urging targeted help for households facing high energy and bills, including extra money for the home heating oil scheme and an Essentials Guarantee for Universal Credit. She also proposes a ten-year investment partnership on…
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Stormont budget request for household support and infrastructure investment Original release: Hanna: Budget must deliver support now and invest in Northern Ireland's future (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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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 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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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)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (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)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 8 August 2026 (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)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 8 August 2026 (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)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 8 August 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP launches plan for food system transformation
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP launches a policy paper, Seeds of Success, proposing a legal entitlement to food, ring-fenced soft drinks levy revenue, local sourcing targets for public procurement and a healthy food subsidy pilot. It frames food insecurity as a public health and economic issue.
Agriculture and rural affairs Social security and welfare Issue: SDLP Seeds of Success food systems policy paper launch Original release: SDLP launches plan for food system transformation (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 13 November 2026 (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)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 13 November 2026 (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)
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Whyte condemns further North Belfast disorder
SDLP North Belfast Councillor Carl Whyte condemns further disorder at Sandyknowes, Glengormley and other areas on Wednesday evening, saying masked figures attacked police, destroyed property and terrorised communities. He calls the violence racism and urges protection for migrant communities.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Belfast disorder after Monday knife attack Original release: Whyte condemns further North Belfast disorder (opens in a new tab)