SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood said the current discussions at Stormont are an “exclusive two party process”.The SDLP leader said: “We had a short meeting with the two governments alongside the UUP and Alliance today.
“Earlier in the week, I made it very clear to both Governments that they shouldn’t bring us into a room to waste our time with no meaningful update or substance.
“Today, I felt they had listened on some level as both governments accepted what the SDLP has said all along.
“The truth is, this isn’t an all-party process. It is an exclusive two party process.
“The SDLP are not here to window dress but we want to be constructive. I’ve told both governments when the two party process is concluded and they are ready to engage in five party negotiations the SDLP will be ready to negotiate.’
He said that the need for the formation a new government was now more urgent after Europe’s Chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said today that a hard border between the Republic and the North of Ireland was now “almost inevitable”.
“With a hard Brexit coming down the tracks that will cause economic, social and political chaos to our island, I also stressed to the Irish and British governments the need for the formation of a government urgently.
“Everyone across these islands is talking about the threat of a hard border, yet here we have a political vacuum.
“The SDLP continues to use its time constructively to work with partners across Ireland and Europe to make it clear that we must remain in the Single Market and the Customs Union.
“When the DUP and Sinn Fein decide they are prepared to enter into an inclusive all-party talks process and talk about the issues that we want to get agreement on – including dealing with Brexit, increasing childcare provision, addressing regional disparity, ending homelessness and poverty – we’ll be ready and willing at any time to negotiate,” added the SDLP leader.
