SDLP leader sits down with Belfast Live and insists 'good election' could spark SDLP revival
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood is bullish about his party's chances of holding on to its existing seats in Foyle and South Belfast - and even causing an upset and winning the election in South Down .
The SDLP boss began by talking up his role in the delivery of several key funding packages for Derry - and looking ahead to a possible Labour government that he said "can't be any worse" than the previous 14 years of Conservative Party government. "But we're very aware, look, Labour are going to have to have their feet held to the fire and you can't do that unless you're there. That's why our pitch, I suppose in this election is there's no point voting for somebody who can't get elected."
Asked what other differences exist between Sinn Fein and the SDLP, he said: "Of course, Sinn Fein have been running the government alongside the DUP for almost 20 years. I'm not sure people in Derry would feel that they've got a fair deal out of that. I actually find it much easier to get money out of London or Dublin than I do out of Stormont, which is a real indictment actually, in that period of government that we've had. we've never pulled the Executive down.
"So what goes up must come down and I think never mind what pollsters or pundits or journalists say the people have the opportunity next week to vote for candidates who will turn up and speak up and vote on your behalf or candidates who won't do anything at all."
Conservative Party Labour Party DUP SDLP Sinn Fein South Belfast South Down Stormont Co Derry
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