🚨🗣Opposition Day: The SDLP Stormont Opposition Leader Matthew O'Toole says party motions today are designed to 'tackle the root causes of poverty.'

🚨He confirmed to Political Reporter James that the SDLP will meet with PSNI today following front desk closures.

Some Executive party reps have quibbled about SDLP costings for removing the two-child limit.

Below is a selection of Executive party motions which have so far passed without *any* costings.

Reminder, we are the Opposition, they are in Government. We had costings, they didn't.

Delighted to open the RCPCH #WorriedandWaiting report. Children’s waiting list times have only got longer over time. This report offers important recommendations for action. Let’s see them delivered!
The SDLP | Matthew O'Toole

How many SF and DUP MLA's care about poverty.
Remember this.
Out of the biggest parties - this is how many showed up
#FightPoverty #WorkingFamilies #SDLPFightingForYou
Matthew O'Toole makes a very good point - Where are they?

Earlier we proposed costed ideas to remove the two-child limit pushing so many into poverty.

Disappointed Executive parties voted it down (though some are supporting our other proposals).

Ironically, its the SDLP Opposition providing costed plans while others are in no rush.

Deeply disappointing that Sinn Féin and Alliance MLAs joined the DUP in voting down our costed Opposition proposal to remove it the appalling two-child limit.

Remarkable levels of double talk as they watered down a reasonable and affordable proposal.

The SDLP Opposition puts poverty alleviation at the top of the agenda today, starting with our proposal to bin the awful two-child limit and lift thousands of kids out of poverty.

You can watch the debate from about 11am here👇

niassembly.tv/live-stream-1/

Brilliant questions and sharp ideas from the future leaders on St Michael's PS student council who visited Stormont earlier.

There was significant support for a shorter school week and longer summer holidays 😇

Frustrated to see the Executive parties water down the first of our anti-poverty motions by agreeing an Alliance amendment removing both a firm timeline and the need for a ring-fenced budget on child poverty

A pattern is emerging of 'no rush' inside the Executive...

My column in today’s Irish News - politics is less rumbustious than before - but there’s still talented politicians on all sides though very party still carries unnecessary deadwood Claire Hanna Liz Kimmins Sorcha Eastwood MLA Matthew O'Toole Pam Cameron MLA Amanda Ferguson

This is such an important point, I felt it needed to be quote posted with better ALTing of the lists actually text Matthew O'Toole The SDLP
To fit the ALT character limit, Alliance Party = AP & Sinn Fein = SF #BeTheChangeToSeeTheChange

I hadn't read this when it first came out. Its very moving, but not in maudlin way, and confirms everything you've always sensed about Palin being a brilliant person.

Thanks for calling this out and promotion of petition Matthew O'Toole

Some thoughts from a morning at the NI assembly listening to the opposition day debate on the 2 Child limit brought by The SDLP. Thanks to Matthew O'Toole and party colleagues for raising this important debate. Whilst positive all of the parties want to address child poverty 1/3

Pablo D Matthew O'Toole Robert Peston More #Brexit 'winning'...

Our first proposal, debated tomorrow, is for a binding Exec target to reduce child poverty by the end of this Assembly mandate.

This couldn't be more pressing with the recent NI Audit Office report highlighting one in five NI kids living in poverty.

So how do we go about this?

I get SF want to make a clever political point by leaving benches empty during Oppositon Days.

But having 2 out of 27 SF MLAs in chamber for anti-poverty debates demeaned the issue and insulted campaigners.

Btw they *all* turned up to vote with the DUP & block our main proposal

Really important debate in Northern Ireland Assembly tomorrow The SDLP Matthew O'Toole

Addressing the Benefit Cap #CliffEdge25 and mitigating the 2 child limit (as per Les allamby Review) would be a huge step forward in addressing #childpoverty

#FightPoverty

Matthew O'Toole Hang on, you're saying 25 MLAs we're milling around just outside the chamber or hanging around their offices waiting for the debate to come to a conclusion just to vote?