Agreement a corruption of democracy say the SDLP

THE Hillsborough Agreement is a 'corruption of democracy'.

That's according to SDLP Upper Bann MLA Dolores Kelly, who said the deal, far from being a breakthrough, is a serious setback for nationalist interests.

She said: “We would welcome any progress towards devolution of policing and justice, but this deal is a fix done by just two parties for two parties.

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"It is a corruption of democracy in general and in particular of the inclusive model of democracy which is the very basis of the Good Friday Agreement. That agreement was voted for overwhelmingly by the people of Ireland. It is against the interests of nationalism for Sinn Fein to tinker with it or dilute it on orders from the DUP.

“Sinn Fein has no mandate to hand a veto to the DUP on the appointment of a Justice Minister. Sinn Fein has no right to agree that ‘no nationalist need apply’, or that nationalists should apply to the DUP as John O’Dowd put it. This fix will see the balance on the Executive shifting away from nationalism towards unionism.

“The two-party side deal on parades is a further sell-out of nationalist interests. Jeffrey Donaldson, Nelson McCausland and Stephen Moutray are Orangemen and may be able to speak for the marching orders, but John O’Dowd has no right to speak for nationalism or nationalist residents on this issue."