Alliance criticises SDLP devolution plans

The SDLP’s alternative plan for reviving devolution breaches fundamental principles of the Good Friday Agreement, it was claimed today.

Alliance Assembly member Naomi Long said an SDLP proposal that British government departments be run by appointed commissioners until devolution returns was inconsistent with the nationalist party’s claim to be staunch defenders of the Agreement.

The East Belfast MLA said: “Over the past few months the SDLP has climbed onto its high horse to defend every detail of the structures of the Agreement, not just the fundamentals as Alliance and the governments have sought to do.

“The SDLP has insisted that it will defend the Agreement to the hilt and nothing else can be considered. This approach has hindered progress.

“It is therefore strange that the SDLP are now talking about fallback positions and Plan ‘B’s.

“Surely their idea of appointed ministers breaches the fundamental principles of the Agreement?

"Where is the democratic accountability?

“Where does it leave the idea of unionists and nationalists taking collective responsibility and sharing power together?”

Irish and British government officials are planning to put proposals for reviving devolution to the parties by November 26.

However considerable gaps remain in the positions of Sinn Féin and the SDLP on the one hand and the DUP and Alliance on the other on reforms to the power-sharing system.

Nationalists have opposed DUP moves to change the system in the Assembly for electing First and Deputy First Ministers.

They have also accused Ian Paisley’s party of trying to secure a veto over the work of other parties’ ministers by insisting on ministerial accountability to cabinet colleagues and the Assembly.

The SDLP and Sinn Féin have alleged the DUP is trying to water down and limit the scope of cross-border co-operation between future Stormont ministers and their Irish Government counterparts.

SDLP Assembly members have accused Alliance of acting like the posh wing of the DUP because they support the changes.

Mrs Long said Alliance believed improvements had to be made to the Agreement and there was more scope for changes in the fundamentals than the SDLP were prepared to admit.

“It is a pity that the SDLP was not prepared to show much creativity in this regard when it could have made a difference,” she lamented.

“By contrast, Alliance has been making clear that reform is the only realistic pro-Agreement option.

“Alliance thinks that it is still possible to move forward on the basis of Plan ‘A’ – a reformed and improved Agreement, consistent with its fundamental principles.”