SDLP warning on education 'chaos'

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The SDLP's European Election candidate, Alban Maginness, has accused the DUP and Sinn Fein of creating "chaos and confusion" in education.

He was speaking at the launch of his party's manifesto where he promised jobs and aid for farmers and fishermen.

Mr Maginness urged voters to give a yellow card to the DUP-Sinn Fein record in government by supporting the SDLP.

He described the poll as a mid-term verdict on the record of the two main parties at Stormont.

Mr Maginness attacked the record of the DUP and Sinn Fein.

He said: "Sinn Fein and the DUP, in turn, rejected our principles of cohesion and clarity, preferring confusion and chaos.

"It is clear when they win, we all lose. In this mid-term election there are many challenges but one clear chance to give these parties the yellow card."

Expenses

SDLP leader Mark Durkan suggested the public was entitled to be upset by the amount of parliamentary expenses claimed by the DUP and Sinn Fein.

He described DUP leader Peter Robinson as a "rich first minister heading up a poor administration".

Mr Durkan said his own party had been open about its record and had nothing to hide over expenses.

However, gave no date to publish his MP's claims ahead of the June Westminster timeframe.

At the launch, Mr Maginness outlined the SDLP's top 10 priorities, which included ways to fight the recession and mass unemployment.

He added that they would protect the interests of workers and ensure that positive initiatives in other EU regions are implemented including wage subsidies and new training schemes.