otoolematthew.bsky.social - Profile | ThreadSky | a Reddit-style client for Bluesky

On Wednesday I questioned both the Prime Minister and SOS about paramilitary transition plans. The SDLP will demand and shape an approach that means no payday, no legitimisation and no more soft soaping of organisations have been destroyed so many lives.

submitted 6 days ago • 3 comments

SDLP official opposition leader Matthew O’Toole branded the latest delay a “farce”

submitted 8 days ago • 0 comments

Brazen gaslighting from Sinn Féin representatives today claiming "progress" on the Glider as their minister indefinitely delays the start date and rules out key parts of the project. It's exactly the kind of shameless deception that has ruined trust in politics.

submitted 9 days ago • 0 comments

At Ulster University last week, @otoolematthew.bsky.social spoke about the crisis of accountability in NI politics. You don't have time to track everything happening at Stormont. But you should be able to trust those in power to deliver. We're committed to making sure words turn into action.

submitted 9 days ago • 0 comments

Pathetic failure to progress Glider/BRT phase 2 by the Executive. Promises to people in South (and North) Belfast made by Executive parties, not kept. Not only no extension to Carryduff - no clarity on when or ever the scheme will be delivered.

submitted 9 days ago • 1 comment

As a geriatric millennial, I make no apologies for having my Horlicks in this mug.

submitted 9 days ago • 1 comment

We desperately need to devolve more fiscal power away from London. But under four successive Sinn Féin finance ministers barely anything has happened other than empty talk. When I asked John O'Dowd how he planned to fulfil SF manifesto pledges in this area, he just dismissed the question.

submitted 13 days ago • 1 comment

Pretty disturbed by some of the Kremlin framing on the Trump talks being bought by parts of the media worldwide. It’s as if the genesis of the war is entirely forgotten. This isn’t a conflict which needs mediation. It was an unprovoked act of aggression. It could end tomorrow if Putin just withdrew.

submitted 16 days ago • 70 comments

I wrote this on the most consistently terrible, and fatal, idea in centrist politics today. On Fanta, rebadging, and why attempting to win votes from fascists is morally disgusting and politically suicidal. www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle-co...

submitted 19 days ago • 23 comments

Tonight Leader of the Opposition @otoolematthew.bsky.social will be speaking at @ulsteruniversity.bsky.social on the challenge of creating a culture of accountability and improving democratic discourse in local politics. 📍 Lecture Theatre 1, BC Building 📅 6:30pm, Tuesday 18 February

submitted 16 days ago • 0 comments

Ethnic cleansing in Gaza. Cutting aid to the poorest. Abandoning Ukraine. Is there nothing Trump could do to make you rethink a photo op? We won’t turn a blind eye and we won’t be at the St. Patrick's week celebrations in Washington. @otoolematthew.bsky.social

submitted 17 days ago • 0 comments

Absolutely clear that Musk via Vance is intent not just on influencing European politics, but on systematically weakening one of the last structural defences against the dystopian instincts of parts of US tech oligarchy: the regulatory power of the EU. That can't happen.

submitted 19 days ago • 0 comments

Are you interested in why NI politics struggles to make meaningful change and how we improve our democracy? I'm giving a talk on that subject and my reflections on a year in Oppositon on 18 February at Ulster University Register and come along: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/creating-a...

submitted 29 days ago • 0 comments

Are you interested in why NI politics struggles to make meaningful change and how we improve our democracy? I'm giving a talk on that subject and my reflections on a year in Oppositon on 18 February at Ulster University Register and come along: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/creating-a...

submitted 29 days ago • 0 comments

Hi @allianceparty.bsky.social Flattered so many SDLP ideas have made it into your paper - almost verbatim 🥰 I fear however your bizarre geographic depiction of this region may stand in the way of your claimed aspiration to rejoin the EU. Which will only happen via a New Ireland.

submitted 33 days ago • 2 comments

Hi @allianceparty.bsky.social Flattered so many SDLP ideas have made it into your paper - almost verbatim 🥰 I fear however your bizarre geographic depiction of this region may stand in the way of your claimed aspiration to rejoin the EU. Which will only happen via a New Ireland.

submitted 33 days ago • 2 comments

Useful but sobering insights from small businesses and community sector representatives on the huge pressures facing them at a joint finance and economy committee meeting. Its clear that Executive action is needed to support them.

submitted 36 days ago • 0 comments

Elon Musk has posed as a champion of those poor bereaved families in Southport but the killer watched a violent video just before his killing spree on X and Musk is refusing to take it down despite numerous official requests from UK & Australian authorities www.ft.com/content/3c89...

submitted 41 days ago • 29 comments

Michelle O'Neill assured me again yesterday that the Executive was delivering and had an ambitious legislative programme. What's on the Stormont agenda for next week? A non-binding motion on nappy collection. Mortifying.

submitted 44 days ago • 3 comments

All our SDLP Opposition Day motions on tackling violence against women passed yesterday, but now we need to see action from the Executive. As I said yesterday, we can no longer tolerate women feeling unsafe as they live their lives.

submitted 50 days ago • 0 comments

Northern Ireland is one of the most dangerous places in Europe to be a woman. We are using our first opposition day of 2025 to place the epidemic of violence against women at the top of agenda. Watch here: niassembly.tv/live-stream-1/

submitted 51 days ago • 1 comment

I wrote for the @ft.com.web.brid.gy today on the huge opportunities facing NI from maximising our unique position in relation to the EU. You can read more of the SDLP's proposals in Our European Future document on.ft.com/40mm7Gk www.sdlp.ie/our_european...

submitted 59 days ago • 1 comment

I wrote for the @ft.com.web.brid.gy today on the huge opportunities facing NI from maximising our unique position in relation to the EU. You can read more of the SDLP's proposals in Our European Future document on.ft.com/40mm7Gk www.sdlp.ie/our_european...

submitted 59 days ago • 1 comment

The Executive has been long on aspiration but short on delivery since it returned last February. We have offered a list of urgent priorities which the Executive should resolve early in the New Year. The warm words of 2024 must be matched by action in 2025. www.sdlp.ie/sdlp_opposit...

submitted 59 days ago • 1 comment

I'm a non-believing Irishman, but it's not Christmas without the Festival of Nine Lessons from King's College Cambridge on Radio 4.

submitted 72 days ago • 0 comments

Every year my terrific colleague @oisindonn.bsky.social outdoes himself with our office card. Merry Christmas from the Opposition and bless us, everyone.

submitted 77 days ago • 1 comment

"This budget is about putting a sticking plaster on our failing public services rather than delivering the vision and transformation needed to change things for the better." @otoolematthew.bsky.social Read more: www.sdlp.ie/o_toole_budg...

submitted 77 days ago • 0 comments

Useful roundtable in Dublin today on the @sdlp.bsky.social Our European Future proposals and how we maximise the opportunities for our businesses, workers, young people and wider society from our unique relationship with the EU. Many thanks to IBEC for hosting myself and @clairehanna.bsky.social

submitted 80 days ago • 0 comments

The Assembly has voted to extend the protections of the Protocol. Now, as well as continued efforts to smooth goods movement, we need a focus on maximising the immense opportunities from our unique relationship with Europe. My words in the Assembly on Tuesday.

submitted 84 days ago • 0 comments

submitted 86 days ago • 0 comments

Ahead of this week's vote, you'll hear negativity about our relationship to Europe. Not from the SDLP. We are NI's most pro-European party and passionate about the opportunities awaiting our people from a truly European future 🇪🇺 We were in Brussels this week making that case.

submitted 89 days ago • 0 comments

Ahead of this week's vote, you'll hear negativity about our relationship to Europe. Not from the SDLP. We are NI's most pro-European party and passionate about the opportunities awaiting our people from a truly European future 🇪🇺 We were in Brussels this week making that case.

submitted 89 days ago • 0 comments

A cracking paper from the SDLP's @clairehanna.bsky.social and @otoolematthew.bsky.social about how they want NI's relations with the EU to deepen and evolve (and bring in a load of EU cash). I'm writing about it for this Sunday's @scotnational.bsky.social column. www.sdlp.ie/our_european...

submitted 90 days ago • 0 comments

Great day in Brussels launching the SDLP's Our Future in Europe proposals Great conversations with @theprogressives.bsky.social colleagues, facilitated by @aodhanoriordain.bsky.social Caught up with EU-UK partnership co-chair Sandro Gozi, S&D leader Iratxe Garcia, MEPs and member states.

submitted 92 days ago • 0 comments

Northern Ireland’s future is European. Delighted to have @clairehanna.bsky.social and @otoolematthew.bsky.social of @sdlp.bsky.social with us in Brussels today.

submitted 92 days ago • 0 comments

🇪🇺 Tomorrow the SDLP will be in Brussels launching Our European Future. 🤝 We want to be back in the EU, but in the meantime we want to strengthen our relationship with Europe. 🗣️ As the most pro-European party in the North, we'll be making that argument to politicians from across the continent.

submitted 93 days ago • 2 comments

SDLP Leader @clairehanna.bsky.social and Leader of the Opposition @otoolematthew.bsky.social will travel to Brussels tomorrow to launch the party's 'Our European Future' paper. We are bringing forward serious proposals to address the impact of Brexit. Read more www.irishnews.com/news/politic...

submitted 93 days ago • 0 comments