DUP slam Colum Eastwood post about English politicians - saying SDLP is 'out of touch' with the public after Belfast knife attack

The Foyle MP was speaking in the wake of a brutal attack on a man in the north Belfast on Monday night. Police have arrested a Sudanese national over the incident.

Commenting on social media the following morning, the former SDLP leader said: “The horrific scenes in North Belfast should not be used by English, right wing politicians to further their own ends.

“I don’t ever remember them commenting on any of the other hellish things that community has experienced over the years”.

The comments have been criticised by the sole unionist MLA in the Foyle constituency.

DUP Assembly member Julie Middleton told the News Letter: “Colum Eastwood would have been better saying nothing than once again exposing just how out of touch he is with public sentiment.

“People across Foyle are deeply concerned by the shocking events in North Belfast and expect their elected representatives to speak up for them, not lecture them.

“The real question is this - where was Colum Eastwood when people in Foyle wanted their concerns raised in Parliament? Once again, the absentee MP was absent when it mattered - he is no better than Sinn Fein’s MPs.

“While others were ensuring the voices of local people were heard, Colum Eastwood was busy criticising those who were actually turning up and doing their job, and expressing the concerns around uncontrolled immigration that many in my constituency share. It is Colum and the open border brigade who have questions to answer”.

Reform leader Nigel Farage has said leave-to-remain status, held by the suspected Belfast knife attacker, is handed out “like Smarties” as he reacted to the assault. The Reform UK leader told reporters on a visit to Grangemouth in Scotland: “We dish out leave to remain like Smarties to people about whom we know nothing, and some of whom cause great harm in our country.

“Frankly, these people shouldn’t be here. It’s as simple as that”.