SDLP leader and Foyle MLA Colum Eastwood
The new Foyle MP said that minds should be focussed on hardworking nurses giving up Christmas with their family to care for those in need, on families worried about the impact of the welfare cliff-edge in a few months and on the empty seats at Christmas tables across the North where young people have left our shores to pursue their ambitions elsewhere.
Speaking on the eve of Christmas, he said: “Christmas offers us a moment to reflect on the year that’s passing and how we, as political leaders, have sought to improve the lives of people across the North.
“This year, while parties have squabbled, life has become immeasurably more difficult for too many people.
“Our minds should be focussed on the nurses and health service staff who will again give up Christmas with their families to care for those in need.
“They’ll do so under immense pressure and without pay parity this year.
“We can do better for them.
“We should be called to act for the most vulnerable, struggling to provide for their families, who face the loss of welfare mitigations in a few months.
“We should do better for them.
“And we should yearn to stem the flow of talented young people from our shores, leaving empty seats at Christmas tables across our communities, because they’ve been forced to seek opportunity elsewhere.
“We must do better for them.
“January will mark three full years since the collapse of the Executive.
“We have an opportunity in this moment to restore not just the institutions of government but faith in the ability of parties to set aside their differences and act in the substantial common interests of those we represent.
“If this moment passes us by, it will be a long time before we get another.
“The SDLP will do everything in our power to secure a resolution that delivers for public sector workers, resources our hospitals and schools, provides opportunity and hope to our young people and defends the most vulnerable.
“That is the challenge of the next few weeks.”
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