SDLP to contest North Belfast seat in general election: Eastwood

*SDLP to contest North Belfast seat in general election: Eastwood"

Anthony Neeson
May 31, 2024 10:11

NOT STANDING ASIDE:

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood says the party will contest all 18 seats

THE SDLP are set to stand a candidate in the pivotal North Belfast constituency during next month’s general election.

Party leader Colum Eastwood last night said that the party will be running in all 18 constituencies.

In 2019 the SDLP stood aside in North Belfast, where nationalists won the seat for the first time. Sinn Féin took the seat 23,078 votes against DUP’s Nigel Dodds's 21,135. Alliance’s Nuala McAllister secured 4,824 votes.

In a thinly-veiled attack on Sinn Féin's policy of not taking their seats in the House of Commons, he said it was important for "Northern Ireland's voice to be heard".

"It's better to be there holding it (the government) to account, standing up, having our voice heard," he said.

"Sitting outside, or turning up now and again and standing outside doing interviews, makes no impact whatsoever."

Sinn Féin insist their voice can still be heard by the London government without sitting at Westminster.

However, Mr Eastwood claimed he had popular support for taking his seat in the last Parliament.

He also said he had built up "seriously strong relationships" with the Labour Party, which he hopes will form the next government.

Speaking on BBC NI’s The View, Mr Eastwood said: “ We’ll be running in 18 constituencies. We’ll focus our resources in a number of those constituencies where we think we can be competitive.”

He said that there are places where the SDLP has to build back over the long term, adding: “We will be focusing on places where we can win.”.

“It is clear that people want positive change, and in these constituencies we encourage voters to support progressive parties, who will reject Tory cuts and Tory pacts.

“We need every constituency fighting back against that and we have decided to give the best chance in those four constituencies to those progressive and inclusive candidates who can win.”