Colum Eastwood addresses UUP Conference 2016

In a demonstration of genuine leadership, SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood spoke at the Ulster Unionist Confernece in the interest of cooperation and of people across this region who deserve better from government.
As Colum said,
"It’s the principle of partnership, ingrained in our institutions by the SDLP and UUP and degraded by the current government, that brings us together on issues of common cause where we can make a positive difference to the lives of the people we represent.
"Both the SDLP and the Ulster Unionists share the common ground of wanting to make Northern Ireland work. That’s a healthy common ground to hold for today and tomorrow."

[@alexsmyth17]

This is the way it should have been; the UUP and the SDLP back governing Stormont.

[@cheeselovingtree]

Nesbitt and Eastwood could have done a great job

[@jamesthejoker7415]

As a unionist I quite agree, I wouldn’t even mind seeing an SDLP First Minister if it means we can get rid of the insufferable DUP and Sinn Féin.

[@OhEidirsceoil]

@@cheeselovingtree lol. Good joke

[@stephenowens354]

Cooperation is a two way street - CAN anyone please sign-post me to where the UUP address a SDLP conference

[@cheeselovingtree]

tbh this cooperation was badly organized. I remember loads of SDLP people saying they wouldnt put UUP as their second preference after Nesbitt encouraged the UUP to do the same.

[@cheeselovingtree]

it could have been great.

[@PeterFlanagan0987]

Well I mean they have adressed southern parties conferences

[@OhEidirsceoil]

I dont think Adams will be telling anyone that it ws him addressing the UUP crowd. Take all the credit yourself🤣🤣

[@andrewthomasduff.4180]

It's Coulm Eastwood he's says want he wants when he wants

[@nicolamcguinness8689]

Is that William dozier

[@MichaelMinecraft190]

He got me at "leader of nationalism"....#PMSL #comedygold

[@OhEidirsceoil]

I laughed myself.

[@datankersmyth]

I appreciate the willingness to compromise, which must be the dominant theme of the peace process... but Eastwood is a weak leader, in fact, the SDLP party as a whole is weak. They claim to be Irish Nationalists, and even Republicans, but then continue to use vocabulary such as 'Northern Ireland' and 'Londonderry', which is a clear indication that they have no intention of ever bringing about a United Ireland. "You convince us of your view for the future, and we'll TRY to convince you of ours" - Colum Eastwood, the weakest so-called Nationalist party leader to have ever been in Ireland. He addressed that conference like a true unionist. Pathetic.

[@datankersmyth]

The purpose of using the names 'North of Ireland', 'The Six Counties', or simply 'The North' is to demonstrate an aversion to complacency in regards to the issue of partition. If we use the name 'Northern Ireland', the name given to that part of our country by the British, not by will of the Irish people, then it can be taken as a sign that we accept partition. I don't expect a Stoop to understand this concept, but vocabulary can play a significant role in politics, even as far as altering public perception on issues such as this.

[@datankersmyth]

Yes, you're right, a vote was had and that was the outcome. However, accompanying that vote, as I'm sure you know, was the powersharing government we currently enjoy at stormont. Which is great, it put an end to the violence, which by the end of the troubles had lost all direction and was over little more than money in most cases, rather than the establishment of a 32 County Republic. And as a young Republican today, I would much prefer a United Ireland brought about by democratic means than for me, and many young people like me, to have to pick up arms and fight for it. That's hopefully all in the past. But if you think any change is ever going to brought about by the SDLP, the Stoops, then you're mistaken. Their only focus is how they can badmouth Sinn Féin, hence Eastwood opening that talk with a joke about Gerry Adams, thinking that it's going to win them nationalist votes and unionist favour. It's not. That and using vocabulary such as 'Northern Ireland' and 'Londonderry', such as was featured in their East Derry election leaflets this year, clearly shows nationalist voters how they accept and acknowledge partition. If you want change you have to act as if change has already taken place, that's why other republicans and nationalists use 'The North of Ireland', 'The 6 Counties' or 'The North'. The vocabulary makes it sound as if partition has already ended, which I believe, is the mentality we need to have. And I wish to apologise to you if I was a bit snarky, we are on the same side afterall. God forbid we end up like the unionists and have a million different tiny parties arguing for the same thing.

[@lil_timmy7443]

They use it because they dont like to offend unionist

[@OhEidirsceoil]

@@lil_timmy7443 so they rather offend those they "CLAIM" to represent?

[@OhEidirsceoil]

@@datankersmyth well said. 100% correct🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪

[@LolLol-ch7sl]

This is why the UUP and SDLP are both finished.

[@lil_timmy7443]

I vote the uup and they are the best

[@AaronJCassidy]

Why? Because of tolerance and common sense? Are these things such deal-breakers for the NI electorate?

[@carlostma643]

@@AaronJCassidy perhaps too much is at stake for views to be watered down as is seen in the centre ground

[@OhEidirsceoil]

@@AaronJCassidy sdlp are finished cos they are sell outs.