SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood has said the the collapse of the all-party talks at Stormont comes as a result of an unwillingness to engage in creative compromise on key elements of former agreements.
“We are facing an immediate budgetary crisis; we are days away from the triggering of Article 50,” he said at Stormont.
“What’s needed now is a new, structured dialogue to take the place of the shapeless process that has concluded – a resolution is possible.”
Mr Eastwood called on the Secretary of State to create space immediately for a reconvened and refreshed process.
He said: “The clear message from the public after this month’s election was an extreme frustration with the way government worked. After weeks of talks, the DUP clearly hasn’t got that message.
“This wasn’t just about RHI, it was about the way people and communities were treated, it was about a respect deficit, it was about an absence of equality. Those who are responsible for creating that poisoned political atmosphere must address it in word and action.
“There was, and remains, a mandate for creative compromise to form a government. But those who came to the ballot box earlier this month will now be very angry and they are right to be. Their frustration at the failure here cannot be underestimated and it cannot be easily assuaged through more elections.
“We have reached common ground over the last few weeks. But rigid opposition to compromise on key issues, particularly from the DUP, has made a comprehensive resolution more difficult to reach. Our common ground should not be scorched to serve the interests of one party.
“The Secretary of State must immediately create space for all parties to refresh their outlook on the challenges we face and reach a positive accommodation that allows a restoration of power sharing.”