Distretto Nord

Declan O’Loan sospeso dallo SDLP

O’Loan suspended after merger call

North Antrim MLA Declan O’Loan has been suspended from the SDLP’s Stormont ranks after he called for a united nationalist party in a statement he later retracted.

Declan O'Loan @ StormontParty leader Margaret Ritchie withdrew the whip from the North Antrim MLA after he controversially said on Monday they should consider merging with rival party Sinn Fein.

Mr O’Loan will be unable to take his place in the SDLP’s Assembly group but continues to be a member of the party.

It is understood it could be September before the MLA is reinstated at Stormont.

An SDLP spokesman said: “Following a meeting with party leader Margaret Ritchie this morning, the party whip has been removed from Declan O’Loan MLA until a future date, to be determined by the party leader.”

On Monday, Mr 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.”

He withdrew the statement within hours.

Earlier this month, the SDLP retained three seats at Westminster to Sinn Fein’s five.

In the run-up to the election, the party rejected Sinn Fein calls for candidate Fearghal McKinney to stand aside in Fermanagh and South Tyrone, saying it would not participate in sectarian politics.

In South Belfast, SDLP MP Alasdair McDonnell retained his seat after Sinn Fein’s Alex Maskey decided to stand aside.

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René Querin

Di professione grafico e web designer, sono appassionato di trekking e innamorato dell'Irlanda e della sua storia. Insieme ad Andrea Varacalli ho creato e gestisco Les Enfants Terribles.

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