SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan has said that the SDLP will take no lectures on tackling Brexit from a party which refuses to take its seats at Westminster and take the fight to the Tories.
Responding to comments made by Sinn Fein’s John O’Dowd, SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan said:
“The SDLP will take no lectures on tackling Brexit from John O’Dowd, a man who said parties which endorsed special status had given up on the remain campaign only days before his party endorsed special status.
“SDLP MPs have stood strong with Labour MPs, SNP MPs, Plaid Cymru MPs and others to defeat austerity at Westminster.
“While Sinn Féin MPs were sitting at home, we defeated proposals to extend the bedroom tax to people with disabilities who use a spare room to store wheelchairs.
“We voted down Tory plans to launch air strikes on Syria with no strategy. SDLP MPs have improved lives and saved lives by standing firm against the Tories. We are making a difference.
“Every seat that lies empty at Westminster because a Sinn Féin MP refuses to represent their constituents is a boost to the Tories.
“Every empty seat is one less vote against Brexit. Every empty seat is one less MP taking a stand against Theresa May.
“The only spoilers in this election are Sinn Féin.
“If they are serious about maximising anti-Brexit representation, they should stand down their own candidates in favour of people who can take the fight to the Tories.
“If people want a progressive alliance, they should cast their vote for SDLP MPs who will stand with the SNP, Labour, Plaid Cymru, the Greens and anyone else who will stand against the Tories at Westminster rather than a Sinn Féin vanity vote,” he added.
