The SDLP has tabled three motions in the Northern Ireland Assembly, asking DUP and Sinn Féin members to apologise for the 10-year collapse of Stormont and begin reforming the institutions. The opposition will have one day a month to set the agenda in the chamber. This first official opposition day of the new assembly term will see the SDLP ask members to express their shame at the suspension of devolution over the past decade and to accept responsibility for the “decline in public services” during that time.
The party will also urge members to establish a special committee to consider legislation aimed at preventing the future collapse of Stormont by a single party. A further SDLP motion calls on political parties to commit to reforming the institutions in the Programme for Government. They will also seek support for a call to resolve all public sector pay negotiations by the end of April.
Previous DUP manifestos have referred to “voluntary coalition” as the best long-term option, while Sinn Féin has said it is open to discussing changes to the government structures. However, last year, both declined to back a Westminster report calling for the reform of the Stormont institutions. The Alliance Party has long campaigned for reform as it believes there is a “groundswell of support” for change
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