Tom Elliott MLA has accused the SDLP of being joined at the hip with Sinn Fein after they jointly signed a Petition of Concern about the display of the National Flag on Northern Ireland Driving Licences.
Mr Elliott said:
“Today`s misuse of the Petition of Concern by Sinn Fein and the SDLP finally proves, if you didn`t already know, that their sanctimonious claims to be defenders of the Belfast Agreement are just bluster. Instead both the SDLP and Sinn Fein simply cherry pick parts of any agreement.
“The SDLP, not content with trying to block the National Flag being displayed on the Northern Ireland Driving Licences of those who want it, now join with Sinn Fein to block a debate and vote on the issue. They seem joined at the hip with Sinn Fein. We are not surprised by the actions of Sinn Fein, but many would have expected that the SDLP wouldn`t meekly follow in their wake. To quote the words of the SDLP Deputy Leader Dolores Kelly MLA about a previous Petition of Concern, ‘this is an affront to the democratic process’.
“The SDLP joined with Sinn Fein to block the National Crime Agency operating in Northern Ireland which leaves us more exposed to serious crime, such as drug cartels, child exploitation and human trafficking, than other parts of the UK. Now they are trying to stifle what would have been a democratic vote. The SDLP should stop trying to imitate Sinn Fein.”