SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP has welcomed a commitment to examine Northern Ireland's relationships with the South and the EU as part of the independent review of the Windsor Framework.

She was speaking after the terms of reference for the review were published on Friday.

“The SDLP has been clear about the need for this review to be broad in scope and made representations directly to the UK Government and in Brussels around the importance of using it as a chance to move beyond the same tired arguments around Brexit and look to future relationships between these islands and Europe and the opportunities that exist there.

“Rather than simply focusing on narrow arguments around the Protocol, this review will now include the North’s future relationship with the EU and protecting North-South cooperation which is vital for our all-island economy. This shows the importance of the arguments the SDLP has been making over the past few months and the positive proposals we have put forward in the party's ‘Our European Future’ paper. While others continually harken to the past, we are firmly focused on the future.”

SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O’Toole said:

“The SDLP is proudly the North’s most pro-European party and we have spent the past few months bringing forward ideas about how we can utilise our relationship with Europe in exciting ways. We want to see a European Commission office in Belfast, representation in the European Parliament, freedom of movement for our young people and investment in our economy and community infrastructure.

“We look forward to engaging with this review and will be ensuring that the voice of the pro-European majority in Northern Ireland is heard loud and clear by Lord Murphy. This is an important opportunity to shape our relationship with Europe, one that’s about building a better future for our young people and realising all of the potential within that.”