MPs have voted to hold a General Election on Thursday, December 12.
It will be the first time a General Election has been held in December since 1923.
The move came after Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn caved in after huge pressure from the Liberal Democrats and SNP to go to the polls.
Reacting to the news, SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood MLA has said the December Westminster election will be a defining moment for Brexit and every opportunity to defend the interests of people, businesses and communities in the North must be taken.
Mr Eastwood is expected to contest the Foyle constituency in a bid to win it back from Sinn Fein who took it by a narrow margin in 2017.
He said: “For three years, the democratic decision taken by people in Northern Ireland to reject a border on this island, to maintain the free and frictionless relationship we enjoy with Europe and to sustain our fragile peace has been wilfully ignored by successive Conservative governments and by the DUP.
“The coming election is an opportunity to reject the politics of division and deadlock and defend our interests.
“This island’s destiny is being decided at Westminster. Like it or not, the only way to prevent the kind of outcome that would devastate our communities is to show up and vote it down.
“Our MPs have, with the exception of Sylvia Hermon, either facilitated this disaster or stood outside on the lawn shouting in.
“They have failed to defend our interests. It’s time to give the electorate a chance to cast their verdict on that failure.
“The SDLP is ready for this election.
“We are ready to stand up for people on this island when it counts and where it counts.
“Because Westminster is considering a lot more than just Brexit when it comes to Northern Ireland.
“They exercise our welfare powers thanks to the DUP, Sinn Féin and the Alliance Party.
“They set our budget thanks to the failure to restore devolution.
“They will be passing legislation on victims pensions. SDLP MPs will stand with a progressive coalition of parties to defend the interests of those we represent.
“Bring it on.”
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