7 January 2026
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP has welcomed Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s engagement on reforming the Stormont institutions.
The PM said he would be willing to discuss proposals for reform during Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday.
South Belfast and Mid Down MP Claire Hanna said:
“It is abundantly clear to people across Northern Ireland that Stormont is not delivering. Simply having the institutions up and running is no longer enough when public services are crumbling, our environment is being polluted and the Executive is failing to deal with the challenges people face every day.
“As it stands, the system rewards intransigence and dysfunction. It allows parties to put their own interests ahead of the public good, resulting in veto, instability and decline that keeps Northern Ireland stuck rather than moving forward. While Executive parties have paid lip service to the need for change, they have failed to use the powers in their hands to make the system work better for people.
“While the Prime Minister has been dismissive of this issue in the past, today’s commitment to discuss proposals around reform marks a significant shift and a welcome realisation that Stormont cannot continue on its current trajectory. It is also an acknowledgement of the case for reform that the SDLP has been pressing hard in Dublin and London.
“The SDLP is now urging both governments to begin a structured, inclusive conversation with all parties about practical reforms that will protect power-sharing, prevent repeated collapse and ensure the Executive is forced to take responsibility and deliver for the public.”