SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood MP has announced the makeup of the Opposition front bench team constituting MPs, MLAs and councillors from across the party.
In the face of the most severe cost of living crisis in a generation, the emergency facing our health service and the economic devastation wrought by an out-of-control government in London, the SDLP front bench team will challenge Ministers and propose bold new ideas for change.
Colum Eastwood MP said:
“In every aspect of their lives, government is badly failing people across Northern Ireland. The cost of surviving for working families and vulnerable households is out of control, mortgage rates are up, energy prices are up, the cost of food and fuel is up and all the while, Stormont remains down. It is a political choice to abandon people in a moment of abject need and the SDLP believes that it is unforgivable.
“Today we are announcing a new front bench team that will hold Ministers to account for their failure to take decisive action to support people over the last six months and we will propose bold new policy ideas that will change this place for the better. Our Opposition is about making the North work for all the people who live here and deserve more than the same politics of division and deadlock. And it is also about setting out the case for a different kind of future – a social democratic new Ireland where opportunity and prosperity is shared, where wealth redistribution supports working families and those most in need, where we are no longer held to ransom by people who have been reckless with this place and our future.
“The new SDLP teams have already started their work engaging with community groups, business representatives and senior leaders in health, education and housing. Our mission is to address the real challenges facing people in our communities.”
Spokespeople names and titles:
Colum Eastwood MP, SDLP Leader
A New Ireland
Claire Hanna MP
Europe and International Affairs
Matthew O'Toole MLA, Leader of the Opposition
Cost of Living Crisis
Daniel McCrossan MLA
Social Justice
Sinead McLaughlin MLA
Jobs, the Economy and Justice
Cara Hunter MLA
Children and Young People
Colin McGrath MLA
Health and Wellbeing
Patsy McGlone MLA
Rural Communities
Justin McNulty MLA
Reconciliation and Sport
Mark H Durkan MLA
Climate Change and Infrastructure
Cllr Roisin Lynch
Rural Isolation and loneliness
Cllr Ryan Wilson
Fair Work
Cllr Joe Boyle
Rural transport
Deirdre Vaughan
Fair Childcare
Cllr Thomas O'Hanlon
Cross-border business
Cllr Grainne O'Neill
Mental Health
Cllr Ciaran Toman
Tackling Paramilitarism
Cllr Donal Lyons
Heritage, culture and arts
Cllr Paul McCusker
Housing and homelessness
Paul Doherty
Ending Poverty
Charlotte Carson
Curriculum reform
Cllr Gary McKeown
Climate Emergency and Net Zero
Cllr Carl Whyte
Health Service reform
Cllr Margaret Anne McKillop
Rural opportunities
Cllr Ashleen Schenning
Training and Skills
Cllr Brian Tierney
University expansion
Cllr Adam Gannon
Education reform
Cllr Johnny McCarthy
Justice reform
Cllr Simon Lee
Active Travel
Cllr Malachy Quinn
Regional investment
Cllr Kerri Martin
Community integration
Cllr Gareth Sharvin
Equalities
Cllr Laura Devlin
Tourism and hospitality
Cllr Pete Byrne
All island rail