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02/12/2015
SDLP Calls On PM To Withdraw 'Terrorist Sympathisers' Remarks Immediately
The SDLP has hit out at Prime Minister David Cameron after he described MPs opposed to air strikes in Syria as "terrorist sympathisers".
Leader Colum Eastwood MLA is calling on Mr Cameron to withdraw the remarks immediately.
Mr Eastwood said: "David Cameron's remarks describing those opposed to air strikes in Syria as 'terrorist sympathisers' are appalling, inaccurate and offensive in the extreme.
"Opposing military action in Syria that will kill innocents and can only feed the evil we all want to defeat is not sympathy with terrorists, it's part of the lesson we have learned from decades of conflict.
"To describe people like Mark Durkan, Margaret Ritchie and Alasdair McDonnell as 'terrorist sympathisers' is absolutely galling. These are people who stood strongly against violence for over forty years at great personal risk while people like David Cameron enjoyed a life of privilege. His comments are totally despicable and he should withdraw them immediately.
"SDLP MPs will proudly walk through the voting lobbies with our colleagues in Labour, the SNP, Plaid Cymru and other parties to oppose military action tomorrow.
"We will not legitimise the trigger finger of a Prime Minister more concerned with the theatrics of winning a political victory over the Labour Party than the devastation that will rain down on innocents in Raqqa as they are used as human shields by vicious cowards in IS."
(CD/JP)
Leader Colum Eastwood MLA is calling on Mr Cameron to withdraw the remarks immediately.
Mr Eastwood said: "David Cameron's remarks describing those opposed to air strikes in Syria as 'terrorist sympathisers' are appalling, inaccurate and offensive in the extreme.
"Opposing military action in Syria that will kill innocents and can only feed the evil we all want to defeat is not sympathy with terrorists, it's part of the lesson we have learned from decades of conflict.
"To describe people like Mark Durkan, Margaret Ritchie and Alasdair McDonnell as 'terrorist sympathisers' is absolutely galling. These are people who stood strongly against violence for over forty years at great personal risk while people like David Cameron enjoyed a life of privilege. His comments are totally despicable and he should withdraw them immediately.
"SDLP MPs will proudly walk through the voting lobbies with our colleagues in Labour, the SNP, Plaid Cymru and other parties to oppose military action tomorrow.
"We will not legitimise the trigger finger of a Prime Minister more concerned with the theatrics of winning a political victory over the Labour Party than the devastation that will rain down on innocents in Raqqa as they are used as human shields by vicious cowards in IS."
(CD/JP)
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