‘SDLP could declare itself non-nationalist and join Sinn Féin in power’
Alliance leader Long suggests party redesignates to form a government
THE SDLP could declare itself non-nationalist and go into government in the North with Sinn Féin and the Ulster Unionists, Alliance leader Naomi Long has said.
As the DUP continues to refuse to go into government with Sinn Féin because of its objection to the post-Brexit trade agreements, parties are looking for inventive ways to form a government.
Under the Northern Ireland system, to avoid a repeat of the sectarian governments of the past, coalitions cannot be formed between two nationalist or two unionist parties.
Ms Long told the Irish Daily Mail the SDLP, which is designated a nationalist party under Stormont rules, could declare itself as ‘other’, which would allow it to enter into government with Sinn Féin and possibly another party.
Likewise, the UUP could declare itself ‘other’, allowing it to enter into coalition with the DUP.
Something similar occurred in 2001, when the Alliance overcame a DUP refusal to go into government by declaring itself a unionist party for a single week.
That led to a furious argument in front of the world’s media that became known as ‘The Brawl In The Hall’, when senior DUP figures, including Ian Paisley Jnr, confronted Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble as he was holding a press conference to announce the formation of the new government. The DUP group angrily shouted at Mr Trimble, leading to pushing and shoving in front of the media, as the DUP complained that the rules had been flouted.
Ms Long said rules have since changed under the St Andrews Agreement so that a party must keep to its nationalist/unionist/ other status for the entirety of a Stormont government’s sitting.
The Alliance Party surged in support in the North’s elections this month, gaining nine MLAs, far more than any other party.
It is now the third-largest party after the DUP on 25 MLAs and Sinn Féin on 27.
Ms Long said it is time to reform the system so her party, which is neither nationalist nor unionist, has the same chance to enter government as everyone else.
She added: ‘We argued for the need for those who are neither nationalist nor unionist to be treated as equals in this process, given proper recognition, and for the removal of the designation system.
‘For that reason we will not redesignate under any circumstances to facilitate the continuation of a system that is fundamentally broken and no longer fit for purpose.’
Last week, Ms Long’s husband Michael was elected Lord Mayor of Belfast – making them the first married couple to have both held the post. Mr Long will only hold the post for 23 days, when Sinn Féin are due to take the post on June 1. Ms Long was lord mayor in 2009 when she was a councillor.
At his first council meeting as mayor this week, Mr Long, who is originally from Canada, first spoke in Irish before switching to English to thank his supporters and the Alliance Party.
Ms Long was elected leader of the party in 2016, replacing David Ford.
She was re-elected last week for East Belfast and is still the justice minister – a ministry that is reserved for either Alliance or independents because all parties agree it should be kept free from sectarian politics.
‘System is not fit for purpose’