Derry Daily
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Sport
  • Features
  • Courts
  • Business
  • Health
  • Politics
  • Jobs
Sunday 18°CMonday 16°C

Derry Daily Derry Daily Derry Daily

  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Sport
  • Features
  • Courts
  • Business
  • Health
  • Politics
  • Jobs
Derry CityNewsPolitics

SDLP leader urges parties to back emergency legislation

written by cassoscoop June 6, 2022
ShareTweet

SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood

SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood has written to the leaders of Stormont parties urging them to back emergency legislation that would empower Ministers to allocate hundreds of millions in unspent resource to address the cost of living crisis.

The Stormont cash cannot be spent as a result of the collapse of the Executive but the SDLP sponsored legislation aims to amend the law to give a group of Ministers acting together the power to implement a new energy costs scheme to help struggling households.

Colum Eastwood has also written to the British and Irish Governments outlining the route to implement the new legislation, which requires the nomination of a Stormont Speaker.

Said the Foyle MP: “Every month families across our communities are dealt another blow by energy companies announcing a new raft of price hikes and tariff increases that are squeezing people beyond their means.

“We have passed breaking point for many households where parents have accepted that they will have to turn off the radiators to make sure they can put food on the table.

“It is a damning indictment of our politics that while people sit cold, hungry and afraid of what the next set of price hikes will mean for their family, that Stormont is sitting on hundreds of millions in unspent resource that could help people.

“It cannot continue like this.

“I have already said that the SDLP will form a constructive opposition to the next Stormont administration.

“We will not stand on the sidelines as things go wrong. We will step up and step in to address the huge challenges families here are facing.

“That’s why I have written to the leaders of Stormont’s parties asking them to back our emergency legislation to give Ministers the power to get support to people who need it right now.

“That will mean supporting the nomination of a Speaker at Stormont to get this legislation on the floor of the Assembly.

“Uncomfortable as I accept that will be for the DUP Leader, it’s time to make a choice.

“Jeffrey Donaldson can choose to continue with the politics of protest and boycott, focussed on challenges over which we have no direct control, but we must all be clear that the price of that protest is cold homes, hungry children and parents at their wits end.

“It is a price we would never consent to.

“SDLP MLAs will meet with Stormont’s Bill Clerks this week to advance our proposal to get money into the pockets of families that desperately need it.

“This is a challenge that is breaking people in our communities but the solution is very simple, it just needs political will.”

SDLP leader urges parties to back emergency legislation was last modified: June 6th, 2022 by cassoscoop

Tags:
colum eastwoodcost of living crisisdupFoyle MPleaderSDLP LEADERSDLP leader urges parties to back emergency legislationSIR JEFFREY DONALDSON
ShareTweet
cassoscoop

LEAVE A COMMENT

You may also like

Drink-driver charged to court over Derry collision

7 hours ago

Man arrested over Class C drugs seizure...

12 hours ago

Boyce hat-trick sends Derry City into seventh...

16 hours ago

Dance company loses appeal over 100% annual...

18 hours ago

Unmissable music events coming to the Abbey...

1 day ago

Derry priest faces seven more child sex...

1 day ago

New leaflet to help older people beat...

1 day ago

Man charged with possessing indecent images of...

1 day ago

Positive discussions with Transport Minister on NW...

2 days ago

Sadness as mother of girl (6) killed...

2 days ago

Keep in touch

Facebook Twitter Email

Features

  • Sun, sea, spectacular views, historical charm and fabulous food. Tunisia of course

    April 5, 2024
  • Magical trip to see Santa from Belfast

    December 20, 2023
  • DD Travel Feature: Cork’s amazing The Montenotte Hotel

    April 18, 2023
  • Derry cancer survivor Noeleen McMorris reveals importance of awareness

    July 25, 2022
  • Competition! Win tickets to Northern Ireland v England Women’s Euro 2022 match

    June 17, 2022

Courts

  • Drink-driver charged to court over Derry collision

    July 5, 2025
  • Derry priest faces seven more child sex charges

    July 4, 2025
  • Man charged with possessing indecent images of children

    July 4, 2025
  • Two men in court after £1.2m cannabis find near border

    July 3, 2025
  • Two charged over huge cannabis haul seized in North West

    July 3, 2025

Donegal Daily

    Read More

    • News
    • Sport
    • Courts
    • Jobs
    • Features
    • Business
    • Politics

    Information

    • Contact Us
    • About
    • Advertise WIth Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms & Conditions
    Derry Daily

    © 2025 Derry Daily. All rights reserved.


    Back To Top

    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OkPrivacy policy