Aontú Call for the SDLP to Remove its Leader
Aontú Leader Peadar Tóibín TD has called on SDLP members to remove Colum Eastwood as their Leader. He made his statement after Colum Eastwood voted for abortion up until birth in certain cases in Westminster. Deputy Tóibín stated;
“The extreme extent of the Westminster abortion legislation has shocked many people in the north of Ireland. Under the new law, disability-selective abortion will be available hours before the birth of a fully formed child on the basis of disabilities, including cleft lip, cleft palate, club foot and Down’s syndrome”.
“That the leadership of the SDLP would oppose the Human Right to Life and vote for such a level of cruel discrimination shows how far that party has travelled in such a short time. The leader of a party more than any other member of a party as a responsibility to represent its members and voters on such a life and death issue”.
“It is true that Sinn Féin lobbied for Westminster to impose this extreme abortion bill on the north against the will of the people of the north, against the devolved determination of the Good Friday Agreement and against every definition of self determination and Irish Republicanism”.
“However Sinn Féin have long given up the pretence of support for the Human Right to Life. The SDLP went to every door in the north of Ireland in the election 6 months ago and reaffirmed that the party supported Human Rights. Yesterday’s vote made that pretence impossible in the future”.
“Can SDLP members, Councillors and MLAs continue to work for a party that uses its votes to strip away such vital human rights, that selections co-option’s to Stormont who support the legal ending of life. How can these members remain loyal to a party that is actively doing damage to their core values? For many remaining in such a party led by Colum Eastwood will no longer be an option”.