Thanks to Daniel McCrossan MLA 🕊 for highlighting during yesterday's Assembly debate on fuel poverty that:

❌ 31% of unpaid carers are cutting back on essentials like heating, rising to 42% among those on Carer's Allowance
❌ 18% of carers can't afford their utility bills

1/2

Today SF voted against The SDLP motion to scrap the cruel Two-Child limit that has pushed so many into poverty.
It is here after they,with DUP & Alliance, voted to give the Tories free reign to attack our welfare system and those reliant on it.
Consistent ✅
#rulingbyfooling

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

The Assembly Speaker Edwin Poots welcomed the Joseph Kennedy III Joseph Kennedy III and the US Consulate Belfast Consul General James Applegate to Parliament Buildings earlier today.

This was the first official meeting between the Speaker and Mr. Kennedy.

The majority of the 79 MLAs who voted on the motion were absent for the debate that preceded it.

➡️belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/…

belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/…

Today we supported the The SDLP motion to remove the 2 child limit in Universal Credit to help lift local families out of poverty. Minister for Communities Gordon Lyons MLA said he simply could not meet the costs to abolish the cap (estimated at £56.4m) in this financial year. 1/2

Second Opposition Day. The issues we’re championing:
- Ending the two child limit for Universal Credit ✅
- Protecting property renters ✅
- Eradicating fuel poverty ✅
We know poverty is a political choice, and you can be sure it’s not one the SDLP will ever support✊

We are holding a debate today about two child benefit limit/child poverty. I'll let you decide if the Sinn Fein attendance in the chamber is acceptable? 2 out of 27 MLAs. Do they care? The SDLP

Delighted to be joined by anti-poverty campaigners at Stormont today as we demand Executive action to help families who are struggling.

The Executive must listen to the testimony of these groups and act now.

Colum Eastwood Paul Doherty Claire Hanna Daniel McCrossan MLA 🕊 Matthew O'Toole Colin McGrath 🇺🇦 Mark H Durkan Sinéad McLaughlin MLA Patsy McGlone Cara Hunter MLA 🕊 Thousands of families across the North are currently impacted by the scourge of poverty.

Children are growing up without the bare essentials or enough to eat, pensioners are living in cold homes and many don't have a home to call their own.

Our stance against the sibling tax features in the The Independent - “This cruel policy is robbing thousands of children of a secure future, by restricting financial support when it is needed most.' Naomi McBurney Cliff Edge Coalition NI
independent.co.uk/news/uk/sdlp-s…

It is the government's job to eradicate child poverty.
There has been a suggestion that NI can't afford to remove the 2-child policy. For the sake of our children, families & public services we can not afford to keep it.
It has and will plunge hundreds of families into poverty.

Great to meet you all in Stormont this morning. Busy day ahead! Real life issues are on the floor for debate today.

Good to see the cruel 2-child policy in focus at Stormont as part of the SDLP's Opposition Day. It's a major driver of child poverty & scrapping it should be a priority for the Executive. Children living in poverty can’t wait around for change #remove2childlimit Cliff Edge Coalition NI

We are bringing three motions to the Assembly today as part of the second opposition day. We will always fight to reduce poverty in whatever form in our communities. The SDLP

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/

For our second Opposition Day the SDLP is bringing forward three motions focused on tackling poverty.

We are calling on the Executive to remove the Universal Credit two-child limit, ban no-fault evictions and take steps to eradicate fuel poverty.

It's so important - today's amendment lets the department off the hook to take longer to deliver on this policy. Scandalous for any party to support the delay in helping reduce child poverty quicker... The SDLP

Since Stormont returned we've been repeatedly calling for child poverty to be tackled head on so we welcome today's focus on delivery & action. We back the The SDLP call for timelines & targets & encourage cross party support & unwavering commitment to tackling the root cause.

Deeply sad and tragic news for one of our local Strabane Families today.

The thoughts and heartfelt prayers of this entire community are with the Burns family and all those affected by this difficult loss of another young life on the A5 road.