25 November 2025
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O’Toole MLA has said the Executive cannot continue to blame the UK Government for their own leadership failures.
He was speaking during the SDLP’s Opposition Day in the Assembly on Tuesday, where he said Ministers had repeatedly failed to use the powers available to them to address the challenges facing Northern Ireland.
South Belfast MLA Matthew O’Toole said:
“The SDLP used our final Opposition Day of 2025 to urge Executive Ministers to recognise the power they hold in their hands and use it to deal with the many challenges facing Northern Ireland. Ahead of the UK Budget tomorrow, Executive parties will be lining up to blame the UK Government without the slightest acknowledgement of their own failings on everything from the health service to the environment and the lack of social and affordable homes.
“Since the return of Stormont, Executive Ministers have blamed austerity for hundreds of everyday issues they have not delivered on, whether it be the £5,000 needed to pedestrianise Hill Street in Belfast, the Ballykelly Bypass or community transport services. Austerity is real. Families struggling with the two-child limit or disabled people struggling with PIP assessments know what it means. Blaming austerity for not clearing moss from pavements insults those people and trivialises the issues at stake.
“Over the past few years we have heard much from Executive Ministers about what they will not do, and very little about their plans to improve the lives of families here. Even by the very low bar set for them, they have failed spectacularly and relied on excuses, drift and plans and consultations that go nowhere.
“The SDLP Opposition has brought forward proposals on everything from Lough Neagh to childcare and urged the Finance Minister to open the books and show us the real financial picture. This has fallen on deaf ears. Perhaps engaging with our proposals would force this Executive to acknowledge they have the power to change things, but choose not to for fear that taking real decisions would invite scrutiny they could not withstand.
“Our party and others in the Assembly want to build a New Ireland, but we will not achieve it by demoralising people, disempowering them and insulting their intelligence. Ministers must be honest about the choices we face now and in the future. If we want to deliver real change, we need to empower people to build something new rather than curse the darkness, as we have seen time and again from this do nothing Executive.”