SDLP are in 'disarray' says Daithi McKay

Mr McKay said: "The comments from SDLP MLA Declan O'Loan in respect of a single nationalist party and his resulting 'gagging' by the party leadership demonstrate that the SDLP are in disarray.

“Mr O'Loan's statement is telling in that he wants to restrict this nationalist party to the six counties exposing a very partitionist mindset within which his entire party remained trapped,” said Mr McKay.

“Ireland doesn't stop at Derry or Dundalk and neither should any nationalist party. Sinn Fin are the only all-Ireland party that work in North Antrim and have a vision of a united Ireland that goes far beyond the partitionist vision set out by Mr O'Loan.

“The logic of the Good Friday Agreement is very clear. More powers in Ireland and more all-Ireland harmonisation. Any party truly claiming to be nationalist or republican needs to demonstrate this in the first instance through their organisation. Meek acceptance of a six county arrangement is the trade mark of the old nationalist party and more recently of the SDLP,” the SF MLA said.

"This seems to be a statement borne out of panic and it comes just weeks after an election result in which Sinn Fin increased its share of the nationalist vote in North Antrim.

“That result if replicated in the Assembly election, which is less than a year away, points towards the SDLP losing its seat in this constituency,” said Mr McKay.

“Cynics among us might argue that has more to do with Declan O'Loan's controversial statement than any desire to obtain Irish reunification,” he said.