23 January 2026
The Minister of Communities' position is untenable and he should resign having been found in breach of the ministerial code over his posts relating to Larne leisure centre and vulnerable migrants, the SDLP Opposition Leader Matthew O'Toole MLA has said.
The Standards Commissioner upheld a series of complaints into Gordon Lyons' conduct over posts relating to vulnerable communities being housed in Larne leisure centre after racially motivated rioting.
This is the second time Lyons has been found to have breached the ministerial code after being found in breach in 2024 over his refusal to attend North South Ministerial Council meetings.
South Belfast MLA Matthew O'Toole said:
"The findings of the Standards Commissioner are stark and damning. Gordon Lyons acted in breach of the ministerial code at a time when vulnerable people were sheltering for safety in a leisure centre in his constituency in the midst of racially motivated violence. His lack of empathy for people forced out of their homes, while acting as housing minister, is given particular mention by the Commissioner in her report.
"The Commissioner finds that the minister 'may have heightened tensions and contributed to further unrest'. That is a shocking indictment.
"This is not the first time Gordon Lyons has breached the ministerial code. In 2024, he was found to have breached the code by refusing to attend the North South Ministerial Council in violation of his duties. On both occasions, he has reacted with arrogance and his party has doubled down rather than considered the broader public interest or trust in our politics.
"For these reasons, the gravity of the breach and the need to promote trust in all our communities, the Communities Minister must resign.
"Even if he will not, the SDLP Opposition will use all mechanisms to robustly hold him to account."