'People are fed up with the status quo' - Claire Hanna MP

Claire Hanna, @sdlp.bsky.social Leader came to our community garden today. She listened to community organisations and Belfast Council workers on how we build food resilience and develop city spaces for the well-being of the people. A pot of soup on the go and lots to discuss! She's sound 😎👌👏

My wonderful Mum and Dad, talking about lives of service and activism, interviewed in yesterday’s Irish News. I’m so lucky they are my parents 🥰

"Last year, I wrote that the SDLP’s survival depended on whether it had the will to revive itself. Under Claire Hanna, there is evidence that it has found that will."

Good to hear this from @clairehanna.bsky.social 🏳️‍⚧️ www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/norther...

As the SDLP gathers for its annual conference this weekend, party leader Claire Hanna is eager to put constitutional change at the heart of discussions.

Stormont executive 'allergic to responsibility', SDLP leader Claire Hanna is to tell her party's annual conference www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

In an exclusive interview with Suzanne Breen, SDLP leader Claire Hanna takes aim at Naomi Long’s party and criticises Taoiseach Micheal Martin after he ruled out a border poll.

This morning Cllr @DonalLyons and I were made so welcome at the launch of Growbaby Hub, a new initiative from Malone Presbyterian Church. They are supporting families with practical needs - clothes & equipment - in the early years. My office is able to refer to those in need 👶

Keir Starmer said that statehood was an ‘inalienable right’ for Palestine but is putting down conditions, over which they have no control. As with arms sales and sanctions, this is very little and very late. Recognition is logical, moral and urgent.

Now underway at #MacGill25! “Fractured Communities: From Disconnection to Discord,” hearing from Sorcha Pollak @sorchapollak.bsky.social, Gary Gannon TD @garygannontd.bsky.social, Claire Hanna MP @clairehanna.bsky.social, Lata Sharma, and David W. Higgins. Lots to be discussed.

In the words of Nelson Mandela: it always seems impossible until it’s done. My friends, it is done. And you are the ones who did it. I am honored to be your Democratic nominee for the Mayor of New York City.

BELFAST TELEGRAPH: Claire Hanna confronts PM over UK accountability for Israel and calls for recognition of Palestine in a daring Commons clash. - by Will Durrant

🚨@StormontSources is now Live! This week @sdlp.bsky.social Leader @clairehanna.bsky.social is on the podcast to discuss their budget ideas and how they will work with other parties to achieve unity. Plus, some discussion on compulsory voting and the EU/UK deal Listen: stormontsources.com

Discussing the EU ‘reset’ throughout yesterday - really good progress. Will be working to get implementation A S A for the benefit of local businesses, and the SDLP will always have eyes and ideas on wider horizons.

It's clear global politics is at a significant turning point. We can either choose an open, outward looking future, or one which is increasingly closed minded. We firmly believe our future belongs in a new Ireland in Europe. @clairehanna.bsky.social

Very grateful to local PSNI neighbourhood team for speaking at our well attended community meeting in Stranmillis tonight, organised by your local @SdlpSthBelfast team. We’re working together to tackle burglaries & help people feel safer at home

A massive congratulations to Claire Hanna MP for conquering the Belfast Marathon today! No better woman! Thank you Claire for running in our colours, for championing #Solidarity, #Friendship & #Respect with all & for all your help in laying the groundwork for a group in Belfast! @belfastlive.co.uk

What an interaction from the last meeting of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee

Buzzing after my first marathon today, Belfast. Here’s 4 and a half hours condensed into a minute - all human life is here 😊

We were at the DPAC rally in Belfast today, standing against the UK Government’s planned welfare cuts. Both the Executive and Westminster are presiding over people getting poorer and sicker. The SDLP will fight these cuts in Westminster and hold the Executive to account in Stormont.

That busy last week I forgot to tell ya 😉 Recap of issues I’ve been working on for the last week including teacher union conference, advocating for policing support & reform, responding on Trump tariffs & British Irish Trade

The British Irish Chamber of Commerce, WILLIAM FRY LLP Annual Council Dinner 2025. A big thank you to @clairehanna.bsky.social for hosting the evening, and to Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, Minister for EU Relations, for delivering the keynote address.

Thank you to @sdlp.bsky.social , Harriet Brown & @sdlpwomen.bsky.social for inviting me to speak on a fantastic panel on women in politics in NI. It was a pleasure to share ideas and experiences with @clairehanna.bsky.social, Doire Finn, and Catherine McDaid.

As the US ‘liberates’ itself from a strong economy & basic logic, this is a moment for doing the things in our control to protect people + jobs here. I raised the impact of Big Tech on politics & young people, and ensuring Trump’s ‘inner circle’ don’t get a free ride in all this

An excellent morning with @sdlp.bsky.social. Strong ideas but clear understanding of where it stands & what most be done. Informative & transparent. Party feels recharged under @clairehanna.bsky.social

Splendid dinner @houseofcommons.parliament.uk with British-Irish Chamber of Commerce courtesy of @clairehanna.bsky.social discussing UK-Ireland-EU relations. Great evening representing U. Glasgow & championing HE mobility ahead of FP10 @horizoneu.bsky.social @eassh.bsky.social

Friday update from me - housing, spring statement, music and our constitutional future the big issues in my week

Media coverage of vicious & daily abuse of MLAs across the political spectrum is stark & disturbing - solidarity with each & every one of them. Discussed on Talkback this & some short + long term solutions to help end this toxicity & to encourage more people into public life

There is a time and a logic for social security rules changing but this is neither. Public services are at a low ebb. In our constituency offices & clinics, week in and week out, we see the drivers & outcomes of the benefit system and it isn’t all that the tabloids would have you believe.

Friday recap from me with events & debates in Belfast, London & Dublin - with schools, on the Employment Bill & on trade.

Irish spoken ‘for first time’ at Prime Minister’s Questions by SDLP leader Claire Hanna

SDLP leader Claire Hanna writes about why she's boycotting St Patrick's festivities in DC: "The actions we’ve seen from Donald Trump... are of such a character that delicately clinking glasses over a bowl of shamrock in the White House has become unthinkable to my colleagues and to my constituents"

Ní hé gach lá a cloister Gaeilge á labhairt ag ceisteanna an Phríomh-Aire. @clairehanna.bsky.social

I’m recruiting 2 new roles to support my work as South Belfast & Mid Down MP : A Communications Assistant + a Caseworker to help solve the local issues & challenges people come to us for help with. Please share with anyone you think would be a good fit www.communityni.org/organisation...

In Fermanagh today with @CommonsNIAC , and glad to squeeze in some time with FIND, an excellent local youth project , along with our SDLP Enniskillen Cllr Adam Gannon & team (no, we will not be releasing the musical recordings 😝)

Hearing from many creative workers worried about weakening of copyright for benefit of AI. Have written to Minister to say that creatives want to embrace AI, but not at the expense of solid protection & remuneration for those who make things. Will keep a close eye as this evolves

SDLP leader @clairehanna.bsky.social added: "The humiliation is ultimately America’s."

An attempt to strip Zelensky of his dignity by two of the most ignorant thugs to ever walk the world stage. The humiliation is ultimately America’s.

Dublin-Belfast economics, diplomatic briefing, school chats & helping creators flourish - snapshot of my work week.

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.

Matthew O’Toole - a total nerd but crucially…YOUR nerd! Creating a culture of accountability; not for political games but to make services work better, for you.

Great to be at Dublin Belfast Economic Corridor conf at the ICC with Cllrs @brianmcdonagh & @peterbyrnejnr who are working to realise the economic potential of the corridor between Dublin and Belfast, with major infrastructure, regeneration & workforce projects.

Another busy week ahead. Here’s some of the work I’ve been doing the last couple of weeks of Westminster recess, inc funding for Stormont, supporting work on homelessness, meeting businesses on their trading environment, and Q&As with Rathmore & Wellington.

MPs including @carladenyer.bsky.social, @lsrplaid.bsky.social, @johnmcdonnellmp.bsky.social, @clairehanna.bsky.social and @shockatadam.bsky.social have signed an Early Day Motion calling for an Emergency Palestinian Visa Scheme.

Those local politicians who have championed and tried to ride Trump’s coattails have a decision to make. Are they backing his charge towards disinformation, autocracy & international disorder, or are they going to speak truth to his power?

The @SDLPlive made clear we wouldn’t be going to Washington this St Patrick’s Day. Pretending it’s business as usual and a fitting celebration of Irishness just isn’t in line with our values. Glad to see a growing consensus on this & spoke to RTE about it this evening.

As an Irish political party we can’t in good conscience go to Washington for St Patrick’s Day this year. Ireland has a proud history of solidarity with Palestine. The values of the SDLP are simply not compatible with what we’re seeing and hearing from Donald Trump on Gaza.

Discussed Assembly funding & reform on BBC The View. There are so many pressures that it will never feel like enough, but it is truly time for the Executive to get on with it, and to use the power the asked the electorate to give them

The latest comments from Donald Trump on Gaza were chilling. Ethnic cleansing cannot be his latest distorted real estate grift. The international community must respond and defend the Palestinian people. @clairehanna.bsky.social