Northern Ireland parties react to general election

Political leaders across Northern Ireland have been reacting to the news that the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has called a general election for 4 July.

The announcement comes after UK Cabinet members cancelled travel plans and prior arrangements to meet at Downing Street for a cabinet meeting.

Eighteen Northern Ireland seats are up for grabs, out of a total of 650.

The Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) leader Colm Eastwood said he was not expecting the move, but added that “you never know what to expect with this Tory government”.

“This is probably the first time I have ever agreed with Rishi Sunak on anything because, after 14 years, it really is time to get rid of the Tories.

“They have been a disaster for Northern Ireland – destroying our economy, wrecking our public services, starving departments of money and bringing in the Legacy Bill.

Mr Eastwood confirmed that he and Claire Hanna will be standing for the SDLP bringing “more positive representation in Westminster for Northern Ireland”.

“I think the people in Northern Ireland are sick of the Tories, and we could be looking at a hung parliament, so every single vote will count,” he said.

“We know Sinn Féin don’t take their seats, but we (SDLP) do, so it’s important that we are there to vote on behalf of Northern Ireland,” he added.

Mr Eastwood also said relationships between London and Dublin had “been destroyed because of these Tories”.

Speaking shortly after the announcement of a long-awaited cash injection of £36.2m for sports facilities in Northern Ireland, the communities minister gave his reaction to the announcement of a general election.

He said: “The DUP has a track record for standing up for our constituents and we will look forward to making the case for Northern Ireland.”

He told BBC News NI that the DUP have been preparing for this election announcement for some time.

“We are fighting all of our seats to win. Gavin Robinson has an excellent track record in East Belfast.

“But ultimately it is up to the voters,” he added.

When asked about former leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, he said the DUP are “here to send a message about this coming election and who it is that they are going to vote for and the choice they have”.

He continued: “We are a party that wants to make Northern Ireland work and we are a party which is unashamedly pro-union. We will make that case for Northern Ireland in Parliament.”