SDLP urged to rethink standing in constituencies that could be won from pro-Brexit unionism

» John Hedges

An Phoblacht Editor

SDLP know they haven’t ‘a snowball’s chance in hell’ of winning the seat in North Belfast or Fermanagh & South Tyrone, says Sinn Féin

THE SDLP should rethink their plan to stand candidates in Fermanagh & South Tyrone and North Belfast, areas where Sinn Féin has the only real chance of keeping a Westminster seat out of the hands of the unionist/Tory bloc, John O’Dowd MLA has said.

If they run in these constituencies, the SDLP are effectively standing ‘spoiler’ candidates in areas “where they know they haven’t a snowball’s chance in hell of winning the seat” but who will help the Tory/unionist axis hold on by splitting the anti-Brexit vote.

“The SDLP know it is down to a straight fight in North Belfast and Fermanagh & South Tyrone between the progressive, anti-Brexit, pro-equality Sinn Féin candidate and an austerity, Brexit, Tory-supporting unionist candidate,” the Sinn Féin MLA said.

He said that Sinn Féin had opened up the discussion for a progressive alliance “but the SDLP came up with nothing reasonable”.

Now, he said, the SDLP should reappraise their intention to stand in these knife-edge constituencies.