SDLP accuses Tory of insulting people of Armagh

The SDLP has boycotted a visit to south Armagh by the British Conservative Party’s spokesman on the North because of his "insulting" comments.

The nationalist party decided to boycott the visit after accusing Quentin Davies of insulting the community in south Armagh in a press statement he issued ahead of the trip.

In it, the Tory spokesman said: “I have always believed that there should be no no-go areas for politicians in any part of the United Kingdom.”

However, local SDLP MLA John Fee denounced the comments.

“The idea that Mr Davies is reclaiming south Armagh is so deeply arrogant and insulting as to have made it impossible for us to continue with our involvement in the visit,” he said.

The statement claimed Davies would be the first Conservative Party politician to visit Crossmaglen in “at least 30 years”.