11 June 2026
Following a meeting with the Secretary of State at Stormont on Thursday, SDLP Leader Claire Hanna said:
“The SDLP delegation made clear to the Secretary of State today the need for the Executive and UK Government to show leadership, provide support to our migrant communities and put both short and medium-term plans in place to ensure we never see a repeat of the scenes witnessed over recent days.
“We were firm that attempts by the DUP to exploit the tragic incident in north Belfast to raise questions around the Irish border must be rejected out of hand. The DUP should learn from the damage caused by their misadventures during Brexit and think very carefully before heading down this road again.
“More broadly, we discussed the failures of the Executive and how it has allowed this poison to fester within our society. Failing to progress good relations initiatives, treat hate crime with the seriousness it deserves, begin a reform process and even agree a multi-year Budget has created fertile ground for the worst elements of society to exploit.
“In the days, weeks and months ahead we need to see support and reassurance for our migrant communities, proper resourcing for the police and emergency services and action against those who brought this disorder to our streets. This was a shameful episode that brought the gaze of the world to Northern Ireland for all the wrong reasons. These scenes do not reflect the Northern Ireland that so many of us are proud to call home.”