If timing is everything in politics, the SDLP has picked a bad time to become Stormont’s official opposition. The deluge of promises (again) from Sinn Féin and the DUP for milk and honey for everyone has left Colum Eastwood’s party with very little to oppose – at least in the short term.
Just like de Valera when he came to power, SF has launched the equivalent of an economic war with Britain. The SDLP cannot oppose that, even if the “war” is a distraction from northern SF’s social and economic failures in the past 25 years.
This column first suggested the SDLP should enter opposition about 10 years ago (they would probably be in government now if they had) but the party waited until SF was at its strongest before acting.
- Patrick Murphy: Farewell to the SDLPOpens in new window
- Alex Kane: We need to talk about the UUP and SDLPOpens in new window
- Next steps are crucial for the future of the SDLPOpens in new window
The old Nationalist Party became Stormont’s official opposition in 1965, as the concept of civil rights was emerging. The party’s move came too late to save it in a changing world.
Caring about sharing is the way to build a consensus for unity - Tom Kelly
Time for unionism to catch the Casement vision - Chris Donnelly
It is not too late to save the SDLP, but its demise is, as they say, within touching distance. So what should they do in opposition to survive? The answer can best be explained by a comparison with sport.
Up to now the SDLP have been playing Gaelic football: nice fancy passes across the field, then back to the goalkeeper and across the field again.
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood with party colleagues at Stormont
Meanwhile, in opposition in the Dáil, SF is playing hurling: direct attacking, scoring points from every angle and running over anyone who stands in their way. The SDLP in Belfast must copy SF’s tactics in Dublin by learning to hurl.
In the Dáil, SF effectively tears lumps out of government ministers and they do it rather well. However, in their opening statement to the Assembly, the SDLP said it was not their job “to tear lumps out of anyone”. That’s called a nice pass back to the keeper.
Mary Lou McDonald regularly castigates the coalition government in the Dáil
The SDLP also said that their Opposition team would deliver for people across the north, even though opposition parties cannot deliver anything. Instead, they might have said they will expose bad government, secret SF-DUP deals, waste in public finances (and there is plenty of that) and Stormont’s failure to restore public services.
It will not be enough for the SDLP to merely offer administrative opposition in relation to Stormont’s internal workings. Their only hope for the future is to also engage in political opposition in the world beyond Stormont.
They scored a good administrative point by seeking a commitment from SF and the DUP not to collapse Stormont again. When both parties failed to confirm their commitment, the SDLP did not exploit that as a political own goal for the two major parties. So their point has now been forgotten.
The SDLP have sought a commitment from Sinn Féin and the DUP not to collapse Stormont again (Northern Ireland Executive/PA)
SF make their opposition in Dublin most effective by challenging the government’s wider political policies beyond the Dáil. The SDLP have yet to heap shame on SF for planning to fraternise with Joe Biden, supplier of weapons and explosives for the Israeli genocide in Gaza.
They must also address SF’s claim that we now have a first minister for all, by reasonably (and politely) pointing out, “Yes, she is now the first minister with responsibility for resolving all our social and economic problems.” So they might then raise the 700,000 on the NHS waiting lists and insist that the buck stops on her desk.
The SDLP must change the political agenda from constitutional posturing to the problems of real people. The party faces a stark choice: hurl or die
They must change the political agenda from constitutional posturing to the problems of real people. Otherwise they will merely add respectability to a system which puts image above reality. The party faces a stark choice: hurl or die.
As Fermanagh manager Joe Baldwin said recently about his devotion to hurling: “It’s a good day when you break a few hurls.” If the SDLP does not break a few hurls between now and Stormont’s summer recess, they will not have been making the right effort.
In that case, it may well be game over for them and, without political hurling, it will be game over for our public services.
The SDLP needs to play hurling, not football, to survive
8
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26.02.2024
If timing is everything in politics, the SDLP has picked a bad time to become Stormont’s official opposition. The deluge of promises (again) from Sinn Féin and the DUP for milk and honey for everyone has left Colum Eastwood’s party with very little to oppose – at least in the short term.
Just like de Valera when he came to power, SF has launched the equivalent of an economic war with Britain. The SDLP cannot oppose that, even if the “war” is a distraction from northern SF’s social and economic failures in the past 25 years.
This column first suggested the SDLP should enter opposition about 10 years ago (they would probably be in government now if they had) but the party waited until SF was at its strongest before acting.
- Patrick Murphy: Farewell to the SDLPOpens in new window
- Alex Kane: We need to talk about the UUP and SDLPOpens in new window
- Next steps are crucial for the future of the SDLPOpens in new window
The old Nationalist Party became Stormont’s official opposition in 1965, as the concept of civil rights was emerging. The party’s move came too late to save it in a changing world.
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