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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
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Brendan Hughes

Analysis: What the SDLP forming Assembly opposition means for Stormont in reality

SDLP Assembly Stormont Colum Eastwood DUP Executive Mike Nesbitt Nichola Mallon Stormont Assembly UUP

It is unsurprising that the SDLP has moved to form an official opposition at Stormont.

The party dropped from third to fifth-largest in May's election after losing four MLAs, including deputy leader Nichola Mallon.

Now with eight seats in the Assembly, the SDLP is no longer automatically entitled to a ministerial post when a new power-sharing Executive is eventually formed.

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