Writing in today's News Letter, Ulster Unionist Deputy Leader Diana Armstrong MLA has responded to the SDLP's latest constitutional event, "The Future of these Islands: Preparing for Change," which took place at The MAC in Belfast yesterday.

Diana Armstrong MLA said:

“The 'future of these islands' is as clear as it was in 1998; Northern Ireland will remain part of the United Kingdom while maintaining good relations with the Republic of Ireland, underpinned by the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and strong British-Irish ties.

“This is another talking shop preaching to the converted, and it won't shift the dial one inch on a united Ireland. The SDLP are billing one of their panellists as a 'former Ulster Unionist,' but someone who walked away from the party is hardly the unionist voice this event is pretending to platform. It's window dressing, a bit of borrowed balance to dress up a room where everyone already agrees.

“People here aren't lying awake worrying about constitutional panels at The MAC. They want government to work, waiting lists down and public services delivered. That's where our focus is.”