Latest from SDLP
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109 releases
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McGrath: Patients Are Waiting While Executive Fails to Deliver Budget
SDLP South Down MLA Colin McGrath says Executive inaction on a budget is leaving patients exposed as emergency department waiting times worsen, citing September figures and Ulster Hospital performance. He calls for funding to plan winter pressures, staffing and services, including fuller use of…
Health Public finance and taxation Original release: McGrath: Patients Are Waiting While Executive Fails to Deliver Budget (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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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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Eastwood backs home carers amid rising pressures
SDLP Foyle MP Colum Eastwood backs home carers ahead of a Unison-organised public meeting in Derry, calling on Stormont to deliver the promised real living wage and help carers with rising fuel costs.
Economy and employment Health Issue: Stormont brake request on EU goods regulations Original release: Eastwood backs home carers amid rising pressures (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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McGrath: Our Doctors and Nurses Are Not Pawns in a Political Game
SDLP MLA Colin McGrath accuses the Executive of drawing health workers into a dispute with Secretary of State Sir Chris Bryant over pay, after the BMA confirmed further doctors' strike action in November. He says the Executive should stop trading blame and act for patients and staff.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Stormont handling of health service pay disputes Original release: McGrath: Our Doctors and Nurses Are Not Pawns in a Political Game (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 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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McNulty presents 6,500-signature petition calling for CAR-T treatment closer to home
SDLP Newry and Armagh MLA Justin McNulty presents a petition of over 6,500 signatures to the Assembly calling for CAR-T cancer treatment to be available in Northern Ireland. He calls on the Executive to commission a local service and work with the Irish Government on all-island access in the…
Health Original release: McNulty presents 6,500-signature petition calling for CAR-T treatment closer to home (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 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 Original release: Hunter: Givan’s school trousers U-turn should have come months ago (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Health Minister must respond urgently to rise in infant mortality rate
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA calls for an urgent Health Minister response to a Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health report showing rising infant mortality in the region. He says he will write to the minister seeking a funded plan for the College's recommendations…
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O'Toole: DUP cannot use politics of the past to distract from Executive failure
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA says the DUP is using renewed Drumcree controversy to divert attention from the Executive's failure to pass a Budget, as public services face uncertainty. He calls on the DUP and Executive ministers to agree a Budget and address health, waiting…
Public finance and taxation Community relations and legacy Original release: O'Toole: DUP cannot use politics of the past to distract from Executive failure (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Health Minister must deliver on new approach to hospital reform
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA urges Health Minister Robbie Butler to act on his pledges for rural services and avoid centralisation in hospital reform, citing Daisy Hill, Downe, SWAH and Causeway as cases where communities must be protected first.
Health Agriculture and rural affairs Original release: McGrath: Health Minister must deliver on new approach to hospital reform (opens in a new tab)
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O'Toole: Resignation of Health Minister exposes "shambolic" Executive
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA says the resignation of Health Minister Mike Nesbitt shows the Executive lacks a serious approach to government, and calls it an insult to healthcare workers and patients. He links it to the failure to agree a Budget and to internal party disputes.
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McGrath: Workforce planning key to ending agency reliance in the health service for good
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA welcomes HSC Chief Executives' plans to speed up cutting agency staffing in the health service. He calls on the Health Minister and Executive to sustain the progress and plan permanent workforce recruitment and retention to avoid a return to…
Health Economy and employment Original release: McGrath: Workforce planning key to ending agency reliance in the health service for good (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: If nobody qualifies, what is Continuing Healthcare actually for?
SDLP MLA Colin McGrath says Assembly Question figures show no applicant across five years of Continuing Healthcare assessments in Health and Social Care Trusts was found eligible for funding. He asks the Department of Health to explain why the scheme appears inaccessible and what action it will…
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De Faoite calls for all-island rollout of meningitis B vaccination programme
SDLP Belfast City Council Group Leader Councillor Séamas de Faoite urges Health Ministers North and South to coordinate a single island-wide rollout after the JCVI advised a meningitis B jab for secondary-school-age young people.
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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 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 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 Original release: McGlone calls for focus on hate crime legislation (opens in a new tab)