Declan O’Loan (SDLP) fa marcia indietro sul partito unico nazionalista
Northern Ireland: SDLP assembly man in U-turn over Sinn Féin merger
Declan O’Loan rows back on earlier suggestions about creation of single nationalist party
An SDLP member of the Northern Ireland assembly had to make a humiliating U-turn today on his call for merger with Sinn Féin.
Declan O’Loan, who represents North Antrim in the Stormont parliament for the SDLP, had earlier suggested the creation of a single nationalist party.
In a statement released before lunch, O’Loan said: “I believe that a major realignment of northern nationalism is now called for and I think that this means the formation of a new single nationalist party.
“The values of the SDLP and its ability to command respect and at least second preference votes across the whole community are not something that should be lost. In the interests of achieving Irish unity, that respect is vital.”
But this afternoon O’Loan backed down and released a second statement saying that it was not SDLP policy to merge with any party.
The SDLP refused to stand aside in Fermanagh & South Tyrone as Sinn Féin defended its seat from a challenge by a single Unionist candidate. Sinn Féin had stepped aside in South Belfast so that the SDLP’s Alasdair McDonnell could retain his seat. The SDLP has come under severe criticism over charges that has stood in the way of nationalist unity during elections.