The photo was posted on Twitter by Sinn Féin's official account along with the caption "no explanation needed". "This government has been disastrous throughout the coronavirus crisis. SDLP MPs become first NI MPs to vote to impose extreme abortion regime on NI. "It is now in all of our common interests to agree and secure an extension to the transition period. It's time that he stepped down or was kicked out. The photo was posted on Twitter by Sinn Féin’s official account along with the caption “no explanation needed”. Fermanagh & South Tyrone Sinn Féin seem likely to lose a seat here, with the SDLP better placed than Alliance to make a gain. "For all the confusion in their approach, the 'Stay at Home' message was not complex. A UK government spokesman said: “The government was elected on a manifesto which made clear the transition period would end on December 31, 2020. Simply: Because my enemy’s enemy is my friend and the extremist on “my side” is the better defence against the lunatic extremist on “the other side”. In the context of a rapidly worsening political crisis, the party aimed not only to present an alternative to what they perceived as sectarian parties and expressly aimed to act as a bridge between the Protestant and Catholic sections of the community and heal the divisions in Northern Irelandsociety. SDLP - Seadrill Partners LLC 2020 AGM Results Notification . "We will not ask to extend the transition period, and if the EU asks we will say no. The Alliance surge was also seen in South Antrim, with the party’s John Blair receiving 8,190 votes – more than double the Alliance total in 2017. It was formed in April 1970 as an alternative to the established parties. "Until the UK changes its approach in the context of giving the EU assurance that they are not going to effectively deregulate their economy while expecting free access in the EU single market, I think we're going to continue to be in real difficulty in these talks," he added. SDLP Youth wants this generation and those that will follow to live in an Ireland that stands tall in the world. Sinn Fein, the DUP, and Ulster Unionists did not respond to requests for comment. The signatories to the letter, which include the acting Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey and the SNP leader at Westminster, Ian Blackford, point out that an extension to the transition period is supported by the Scottish and Welsh governments as well as the majority of Stormont parties. SDLP - Seadrill Partners Announces Filing of Voluntary Petitions Under Chapter 11 . "The coherence of the remaining aspects of the lockdown are now in serious jeopardy," he said. The MPs said: "A consensus is taking shape and we hope the UK government will soon recognise reality. The Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) (Irish: Páirtí Sóisialta Daonlathach an Lucht Oibre) is an Irish nationalist and social-democratic political party in Northern Ireland. It comes as Tánaiste Simon Coveney warned there is now a risk of a no trade deal Brexit amidst an impasse in the talks. We have always felt that the SDLP and Sinn Fein should enter into an electoral pact to mŒimize support for the nationalist agenda. "This crisis is continuing to claim lives. Military support of NI's vaccine programme welcomed by Swann, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola hails ‘fantastic’ team performance at Fulham, Atletico Madrid miss the chance to go eight points clear after draw at Getafe, Candles lit on doorsteps to remember Sarah Everard, Rebekah Vardy and Billie Faiers tease Dancing On Ice return, Jurgen Klopp does not expect Virgil Van Dijk or Joe Gomez to play at Euro 2020, The Belfast Telegraph is a member of IPSO and subscribes to its Editors' Code of Practice. THE 1998 Belfast Agreement has radically changed both Northern Ireland’s union with Great Britain and its relations with the Republic of Ireland. "His breaches of public health guidelines have put lockdown at risk. The Belfast Telegraph is a member of IPSO and subscribes to its Editors' Code of Practice Dr Farry said he had seen a huge surge in emails from constituents expressing outrage at Mr Cummings' actions and Mr Johnson's support for him. There have been calls for the transition to be extended in light of the coronavirus pandemic, but the UK government has said it will not consider such a move. Mr Carroll said: "Dominic Cummings has shown the typical arrogant, elitist attitude that you'd expect from a Tory adviser. Farming and Fishing. Mr Eastwood said: "Dominic Cummings' behaviour has critically undermined the British Government's public health messaging during this crisis. SDLP - Seadrill Partners Receives Court Approval of "First Day" Motions . By Michael Kerr. – Newry & Armagh "They stand in sharp contrast to almost everyone else following the regulations and guidance, and who have often made considerable personal and family sacrifices.". There is only one answer. While SDLP transfers favoured Alliance over Sinn Féin in the 2019 European election, in this specific contest in North Antrim it will be impossible to tell how they will go. The SDLP's vision is a reconciled people living in a united, just and prosperous new Ireland. 0:54. Last month, four leaders of the North’s political parties, Sinn Féin, SDLP, Alliance and the Greens, wrote to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Brandon Lewis, calling for a public inquiry into Mr. Finucane’s murder. Nature Good nature news Brexit: Sinn Féin and the SDLP warn PM against reneging on deal. The SDLP and Alliance are preparing themselves for some tough questions on the Westminster campaign trail after a number of abstentions by MLAs from both parties saw a proposal to legalise same-sex marriage narrowly defeated last night. Meanwhile, the Northern Irish Alliance Party will field their leader Naomi Long under the ALDE banner. Sections, Dominic Cummings arrives to make his statement (Jonathan Brady/PA), Suzanne Breen Twitter Mel Boyle of the Alliance Party increased the party’s share from 2.3% to 7.9%, while the SDLP’s Denise Johnston increased her party share by 4.5%. "Extending the transition period would simply increase uncertainty and prolong the negotiations, whilst also leaving us bound by EU legislation and obliged to make further payments into the EU budget. If the UUP, SDLP and Alliance Party joined forces they could form a dominant party of the centre. SDLP and Alliance send an important message. Questions aren't going away and pressure for the removal of Mr Cummings from public office will continue from Alliance and other parties. Unexpected anti-DUP alliance a profound problem for complacent unionist leaders ... a policy the SDLP has long criticised. ", Get the day's headlines delivered directly to your inbox, Michel Barnier, the EU's Chief Brexit Negotiator, has been told by the group of opposition MPs that there is "significant opposition to the UK government’s extreme position amongst the business community, the general public and elected representatives". Alliance and the SDLP will be vying for a seat if SF lose their third, and as with South Down I’m taking a punt on the UUP making a gain. Cummings' behaviour reflects contempt for the challenges faced by ordinary people during lockdown. 2.2K Views. 1 Dec, 2020. 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No-one could reasonably interpret that as giving a green light to travelling hundreds of miles to Durham and then travelling further to a beauty spot to test your eyesight. BELFAST — The decision by Ulster Unionists to vote for a Democratic Ulster Party candidate as the lord mayor of Belfast has combined with the defection of an Alliance Party councilor and the illness of a SDLP woman to deprive Sinn Fein of the influential local seat. It would also end the decades-old alliance between Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Labour and the SDLP, an alliance that has ensured that reconciliation is never allowed to become a political football. They have a simple question to answer - what is more important, saving Dominic Cummings' job or saving lives? The Alliance deputy leader said Mr Cummings' own words showed that he had driven "a coach and horses" through lockdown guidelines. With a succession of party leaders, splits, defections and bloody noses at the polls I have often wondered what the future is for the UUP in a political landscape dominated by the DUP, SDLP and Alliance. 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The SDLP and Alliance are among a group of parties who have written to Boris Johnson calling for the Prime Minister's chief adviser Dominic Cummings to be sacked. "This will enable these detailed and defining negotiations to be conducted at a time when, we hope, the efforts of national governments and the European Union will not be engaged solely with dealing with the dreadful Covid-19 epidemic.". The SDLP currently has 12 MLAs in the Northern Ireland Assembly and two Members of Parliament in Westminster.. "They need to know that the privileged Tory elite are not immune from accountability or the rule of law.". Agribusiness is a … 1 was here. The Party's founding principles were expressly in favour of Northern Ireland remaining part of the United Kingdom, although in contrast to oth… Their incompetence has done more to further the cause of a United Ireland than any Nationalist or Republican party ever! That is enshrined in primary legislation and it remains our policy. Many unionists will see very clearly the increasingly co-ordinated nature of the ‘progressive’ pan-nationalist coalition, which has seen the Sinn Fein-Alliance … Alliance Party (Northern Ireland) SDLP (Social Democratic and Labour Party) Dominic Raab; DUP (Democratic Unionist Party) "The UK is essentially rewriting what was committed to previously in the Political Declaration that was signed off along with the Withdrawal Agreement. pan-nationalist alliance (the alliance of the Irish government, SDLP and Sinn Fein) is an absolute necessity if the interests of the Irish people are to be protected. Email. Alliance will also receive significantly more unionist transfers than Sinn Féin, but what will decide this result is SDLP transfers. ", Coronavirus Has EU's vaccine failure punctured the border poll bubble? People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll said that Mr Cummings was putting compliance with the continuing lockdown at risk and he must "step down or be kicked out". SDLP leader Colum Eastwood has called on the Prime Minister to sack Dominic Cummings and prove that "the privileged Tory elite" are not unaccountable. Turnout in Mid Ulster was 63.83%. The Westminster leaders of the SNP, Lib Dems, Plaid Cymru, SDLP, Green Party and Alliance Party have written to Boris Johnson calling for Dominic Cummings to be sacked. Share price. Should Eastwood take a seat it would present an awkward headache for him in the EP party grouping system, and one that has not gone unnoticed by PES who openly called for SDLP delegates to reject the policy pact with Fianna Fail.