SDLP accused of seeking ‘minority rule’ at Stormont

THE SDLP was yesterday accused of advocating a system of power distribution in the North rather than power sharing.

In a fresh assault on the nationalist party’s negotiating position following the suspension of talks on the future of power sharing, Democratic Unionist deputy leader Peter Robinson claimed the SDLP wanted Stormont ministers to have unchecked power.

“They now want the functions of government to be dealt out like cards among the main parties and each have a virtually unfettered power to exercise those functions within their own fiefdom,” Mr Robinson said yesterday.