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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Welfare reform: SDLP 'cannot accommodate' welfare proposals | Welfare reform: SDLP 'cannot accommodate' welfare proposals |
| (36 minutes later) | |
| SDLP leader Alasdair McDonnell has said his party will not be bounced into an artificial deadline regarding welfare reform. | SDLP leader Alasdair McDonnell has said his party will not be bounced into an artificial deadline regarding welfare reform. |
| The party's 14 MLAs have signed a petition of concern on the measure which is due to be debated next Tuesday. | The party's 14 MLAs have signed a petition of concern on the measure which is due to be debated next Tuesday. |
| Combined with the 28 signatures already collected by Sinn Féin, the SDLP move means the welfare reform bill will be blocked as it won't get the necessary cross community support. | Combined with the 28 signatures already collected by Sinn Féin, the SDLP move means the welfare reform bill will be blocked as it won't get the necessary cross community support. |
| Alliance leader David Ford described the move as "reckless" and says the assembly faces its worst crisis in five years. | |
| "We cannot continue to go around in circles on this issue. The future of Northern Ireland's economy and political institutions are at stake," he said. | |
| Dr McDonnell said his party has tried to be as constructive as possible over the past three days. | Dr McDonnell said his party has tried to be as constructive as possible over the past three days. |
| "It's over to others now, we have made our views clear. | "It's over to others now, we have made our views clear. |
| "Next Tuesday's deadline was artificial and should have been avoided," he said. | "Next Tuesday's deadline was artificial and should have been avoided," he said. |
| It now looks certain that the Assembly will reject the welfare reform package negotiated as part of the Stormont House Agreement, unless DUP Social Development Minister Mervyn Storey withdraws the bill. | It now looks certain that the Assembly will reject the welfare reform package negotiated as part of the Stormont House Agreement, unless DUP Social Development Minister Mervyn Storey withdraws the bill. |
| The DUP has warned that this would lead to a £600m black hole in the budget and a scenario in which the First Minister Peter Robinson believes the Assembly may collapse. | The DUP has warned that this would lead to a £600m black hole in the budget and a scenario in which the First Minister Peter Robinson believes the Assembly may collapse. |
| Sinn Féin has welcomed the SDLP's support for a petition of concern and have called on the DUP to withdraw the bill. | Sinn Féin has welcomed the SDLP's support for a petition of concern and have called on the DUP to withdraw the bill. |
| Conor Murphy said the DUP should "re-engage" with other executive parties over welfare. |