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Maginness: Ford’s fine words unlikely to translate into change

SDLP Justice Spokesperson Alban Maginness MLA has described Justice Minister David Ford’s ‘keynote’ speech as high on aspiration but low on serious deliverables.

Mon 7th June

The North Belfast MLA said: “Mr Ford has staked his political future on a new working partnership. We all support this but the reality for Mr Ford, a minister without a mandate, is that he can do nothing without the support of the DUP and SF who put him in his post and neither of those two parties do partnership.

"I welcome his commitment to a shared future. The SDLP has been championing this around the executive table for three years but the sad reality is that neither Sinn Féin nor the DUP really believe in a shared future.

“Given that Mr Ford is reliant on the big two for his job and that Alliance have voted consistently with the DUP and Sinn Féin on budgets and other major policy issues it seems unlikely his fine words will translate into political change.”

ENDS

07.06.10

Further information:

Alban Maginness MLA 07890878955

SDLP Press Office 028 9052 1364

Bí linn ar leas na hÉireann - www.sdlp.ie