A LOCAL member of the SDLP has resigned from the party following its decision to form a new partnership with Fianna Fail.
Some SDLP politicians and members are unhappy with the new link, including Professor Tom Woolley from Crossgar.
He says he has resigned from the party and has confirmed he plans to commit his energies to the Northern Ireland Labour Party.
The retired architect and environmental consultant, previously Professor of Architecture at Queen’s University Belfast, has lived in
Crossgar since 1991.
He was active in the Labour party for many years before moving to Northern Ireland and is helping to write UK Labour energy and
environmental policies.
“I have been a member of the SDLP Rowallane branch for some years and have stood as parliamentary candidate for the party in North Down,” said Professor Woolley.
“I have nothing but respect for Terry Andrews and Margaret Ritchie for the great work they have done locally. The SDLP has a great history of work for social justice and civil rights in Northern Ireland, but joining forces with Fianna Fail does not honour this tradition.”
He is also urging anyone in the SDLP concerned about the deal with Fianna Fail who has a strong belief in social democratic principles, to join the Labour Party and work to defeat the Conservative Party and what he described as “their fellow travellers, the DUP”.
Professor Woolley added: “The Northern Ireland Labour Party has one of the largest memberships of political parties in Northern Ireland, since Jeremy Corbyn became leader.
“It has a strong and active group in South Down with progressive socialist policies to support workers, trade unions, the NHS and those people suffering from poverty and the social welfare system.”
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said the people of Northern Ireland had been “failed” by politicians since Stormont collapsed more than two years ago.
He hopes the partnership marks an important contribution in “finally breaking the cycle of vacuum and division which has failed our people over the last two years”.