SDLP leader Colum Eastwood with Alec Salmond of the SNP and Foyle MP Mark Durkan
SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood has called on British Prime Minister Theresa May to call time on her hard-Brexit juggernaut strategy as SDLP MPs joined SNP MPs to table a reasoned amendment to the government’s Brexit Bill.
The amendment – which has cross-party support – would prevent the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill progressing to a second reading because the UK government has failed to properly consult with the devolved administrations and has so far failed to produce a White Paper on its plan for Brexit.
Following the landmark Supreme Court decision this week, the SDLP Leader pledged that the party’s MPs would use all means possible to defend the interests of the people of Northern Ireland.
Colum Eastwood said, “Across these islands, parties and parliamentarians are coming together to call time on the British Government’s hard-Brexit juggernaut.
“Theresa May is prepared to damn our economy and destroy the fragile political understanding on this island in her blind pursuit of a hard-Brexit. It’s time the devolved administrations pushed back.
“The leave campaign wanted a return to parliamentary sovereignty, they wanted people on these islands to take back control. Well that’s exactly what we plan to do.
“That’s why SDLP MPs have today joined forces with SNP MPs and others to table a reasoned amendment to the British government’s Brexit Bill.
“We will not allow the will of the people of Northern Ireland and the people of Scotland to be ignored. We will not allow the British Government to maintain a shameful, stunted silence on how Brexit will damage our economy, our political settlement and our open relationship with our partners in Europe.
“While the DUP infatuation with the Tories blinds them to the will of their constituents and while Sinn Féin sit on the sidelines, SDLP MPs will hold this government to account.
“We speak for the people of Northern Ireland and together with parties from across these islands, our voice continues to grow.”
