SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood MP has said that the opportunity to deliver the lasting change promised to people across the North upon the restoration of power sharing has been squandered 1000 days after the publication of the New Decade, New Approach document.

The Foyle MP said that people are quickly running out of patience with political leaders preventing the transformation of health services, support during the cost of living crisis and the creation of new opportunities for young people across Northern Ireland.

Speaking 1000 days after the NDNA document was published and devolved government restored, Colum Eastwood MP said:

“1000 days ago political leaders came to an honourable compromise to restore power sharing government, deliver on the needs of the people we all represent and send MLAs back to work after a three-year hiatus. Today, it is staggeringly clear that the opportunity we had to transform this place and transform the lives of the people who live here has been utterly squandered.

“Instead of a transformative programme for government, we’ve had half measures and empty promises. And now we find ourselves exactly where we were when we started – with no Executive, mounting industrial action in the public sector and politicians who put their own political interests above the needs of people. What we’re also contending with is a totally incompetent British Government that has sent mortgage rates through the roof, interest rates soaring, inflation out of control and a cost of living crisis worse than any in memory.

“Working families and vulnerable households deserve better than the prospectus for failure that they’ve been given. People deserve devolved government that is ambitious for them and their family. It is time for MLAs and Ministers to get back to work. Enough is enough.”