SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP has written to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Taoiseach Micheál Martin calling on both Governments to urgently progress reforms to Northern Ireland’s political institutions ahead of next May’s Assembly election.

The letters follow the publication of the SDLP’s major new policy report, Politics for the Common Good: Beyond Constant Crisis, which sets out a programme of reforms aimed at ending the cycle of political instability, strengthening accountability and making government work more effectively.

The SDLP is calling on both Governments to act on a series of targeted changes before the election, including:

• Preventing a single party from collapsing the Executive by allowing the office of First or deputy First Minister to pass to the next eligible party following a resignation.
• Removing the additional Executive agenda veto introduced at St Andrews.
• Reforming the election of the Assembly Speaker through a two-thirds majority.
• Equalising the titles of First and deputy First Minister.
• Normalising the appointment of the Justice Minister through D’Hondt.

The party has also proposed that the formation of an Executive should require agreement on a Programme for Government, supported by a statutory duty on departments to cooperate in delivering it.

The SDLP has secured Assembly support for institutional reform and has engaged extensively with the Secretary of State and Irish Government on the need for change.

SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP said:

“People in Northern Ireland are facing the prospect of another five years of paralysis and decay, with political institutions that cannot agree a Budget, public services under enormous pressure and parties more focused on who holds power than what they intend to do with it.

“That cannot be as good as it gets. We cannot keep going back to the electorate every five years with the same broken structures and expect a different result.

“The SDLP has been relentless in making the case for reform. We have secured support in the Assembly, engaged extensively with both Governments and now published a practical programme for change. These are not abstract proposals or demands for another lengthy negotiation. They are achievable changes that would make our institutions more stable, accountable and capable of delivering.

“The British and Irish Governments have a responsibility to ensure that the institutions established under the Good Friday Agreement remain fit for purpose. Almost thirty years on, we should be building on the Agreement’s achievements, not allowing political dysfunction to undermine them.

“We have been encouraged by the engagement to date, but the time for talking about reform is running out. Both Governments now have an opportunity to deliver meaningful change before voters go to the polls next May.

“Making Northern Ireland work better today and preparing for constitutional change are not competing ambitions. A more stable, prosperous and reconciled Northern Ireland should be a shared priority for everyone, whatever their constitutional outlook.

“We should not wait for another collapse or another five years of deadlock before acting.”

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