FOLLOWING comments from the Irish Government and British Government last night, SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood said any prospect of joint Tory/DUP direct rule would “radically undermine the principles of the Good Friday Agreement.”
The Foyle MLA said: “Minister Coveney’s position that there can be no return to ‘British only’ direct rule is a statement entirely consistent with the logic and the spirit of the Good Friday Agreement.
“The SDLP is deeply concerned that the NIO’s highly unusual statement in response to Minister Coveney was made in a week when the British Government faces into a number of tight Brexit votes at Westminster. Few will believe that this is a co-incidence.
“The rapid and extreme response to Minister Coveney’s reasoned statement bears all the hallmarks of a British Government politically controlled by the DUP.
“The SDLP are clear that our first choice has always been and will always be restoring our devolved institutions.
“We believe that local decisions on behalf of local people are best made by our local institutions.
“However, if the DUP and Sinn Féin continue to fail to reach agreement, political decisions will need to be made to protect our people and our public services.
“As I said in January, maintaining balance between the British and Irish traditions in Northern Ireland is what underpins all of our political agreements.
“In the absence of local institutions, the only way to achieve that balance means a structure in which both the Irish and British Governments hold joint authority over major political decisions in Northern Ireland.
“The British Government and the DUP would do well to remember that this is not a new position. Joint stewardship was proposed by the two governments as far back as April 2006.
“It is nonsense to suggest that joint stewardship of the North somehow goes against the principle of consent.
“The alternative prospect of joint Tory/DUP direct rule from London would radically undermine the principles of the Good Friday Agreement,” he added.
