Politics can be difficult to understand, that's why we have asked some important questions to help break it down.
Claire Hannah - SDLP
Mental Health
We are incredibly concerned about the mental health and wellbeing of young people. NUS UK’s Manifesto for our Future found that 46% of students’ mental health has worsened since September 2023. What will you do if elected to tackle the mental health crisis, and safeguard the wellbeing of students and apprentices in Northern Ireland?
We recognise the decline in student mental health and the mental health of young people in general. We’ve met with the Mental Health Champion Professor Siobhan O’Neill. We will:
- Work to see additional investment in the health services and in counselling and psychotherapy services and increase access to services
- Recruit more trained counsellors and psychotherapists to the NHS
- Work to ensure a Ban on conversion therapy in next parliament
- Continue work to develop a ‘Future Generational Wellbeing Bill’ aimed at improving the social, economic, environmental and cultural well-being of people here. Economy and GDP are not the only important measure in determining people’s happiness and quality of life and we want to make sure the government and public bodies take into consideration social, environmental and cultural well being of people when making policy.
Sexual Health and Education
Our Sexual Health And Guidance campaign has had the most engagement of any of our campaigns in the last two years. Home students from Northern Ireland come to university with very little understanding of safe sex and healthy relationships, which is a huge problem. Whether they are having sex or not, young people must be armed with the tools to make informed decisions about their bodies and their relationships with others. What will you do if elected to ensure that our young people have access to the education and resources they need to make these decisions?
Agree with the statement above, young people do need to have all the tools to make informed decisions
This is why the SDLP ran a ‘Reforming Relationships and Sex Education’ (RSE) campaign led by Cara Hunter.
The SDLP have been calling for compulsory and modern RSE to be taught in schools across the North. The lack of modern, comprehensive and uniform RSE in our schools is a major failing of our education system and leaving many pupils are ill-equipped when navigating relationships and other challenges life throws their way as a result.
SDLP believe that every pupil must be equipped with the same skills and taught about important issues like consent, sexuality, how to handle conflict, domestic abuse and violence, and what is and isn’t acceptable in a relationship. We have many problems in our society around that could be improved if we teach our young people about them and encourage healthy behaviours.
The SDLP campaign aimed to shine a spotlight on these issues and to build momentum for change around RSE within the Department of Education. We’ve met with young people across the North and relevant groups asking them to give their support for this change so that we can empower our young people and reduce instances of sexual harassment, assault and other behaviours that cause so much harm. We will continue with this work post election.
The Climate Crisis
Time and time again, students have told us how concerned they are about the climate crisis. Many are worried about their future, and the quality of life they can expect to have if this disaster is not averted now. What would you and your party do to tackle the climate crisis?
This is a huge priority for the SDLP. Claire Hanna is one of the most green MPs in Westminster and has worked closely with green MP Caroline Lucas. She was the Deputy Chair of the All party group of Climate change and both SDLP MP’s co-sponsored the climate and nature bill which will mandate UK Gov to achieve climate and nature targets; make the government put in place a strategy to achieve those targets & establish a Climate and Nature Assembly
SDLP brought forward the green new deal bill in last parliamentary mandate.
Claire Hanna has robustly opposed the granting of licences to oil and gas companies in the North Sea & gone head to head with oil/gas bosses on the media & challenged lack of progress to net zero.
Returned SDLP MP’s will Support the Climate & Nature Bill in Westminster aimed at: rapidly reducing greenhouse gas emissions, reversing biodiversity loss and building consensus for a just transition
Continue work we have been doing on developing a ‘Future Generational Wellbeing Billl aimed at improving the social, economic, environmental and cultural well-being of people here
We'll also campaign for an independent Environmental Protection Agency. The SDLP also secured support in the Assembly on 13th May 2024 for the establishment of an independent environmental protection agency by the end of this Assembly mandate.
Additionally we'll continue the Campaign for the implementation of a Lough Neagh rescue plan and the protection of our waterways.
Housing and the Cost of Survival
One of the biggest, reoccurring problems we hear about through our UUSU Advice Bureau is housing. From sky-high rents to abysmal quality, the student housing market is a shame to us all. It’s seen as a cliché or some sort of rite-of-passage, but when students are living in mouldy, insect-infested houses and living on tins of beans we need to call it what it is; poverty. What will you do if elected to improve the quality of life for students?
We’ll work for a regulation scheme for the private rented sector. No-one should have to live in sub standard housing that impacts their health and wellbeing. The SDLP will progress work to strengthen measures provided under the Private Tenancies Act including the introduction of rent controls, implementing legal minimum standards for housing fitness, reforms around grounds for eviction, developing a Landlord Licensing Scheme that includes a fit and proper person test, suitable management and financial arrangements and mandatory compliance with relevant legislation.
We will establish a service for tenants to make complaints easily without resorting to the courts.
The SDLP will work ensure that no student is unable to access third level education due to financial constraints. Through direct grant provision and the expansion of tuition fee loans including for those taking a second degree, all those who wish to avail of university study will be able to do so. We’ll call for a review of university fees.
We’ll continue pressing for a windfall tax on energy company profits to be used to fund support schemes to help students and others with energy costs. SDLP MPs will support a new windfall tax on oil and gas giants.
Israel/Palestine
Students have been paying attention to international policy and conflicts across the globe in recent years, but particularly to what is happening in Israel/Palestine. Please outline your party’s position on the conflict in Gaza.
The SDLP has been the most prolific party in Northern Ireland in terms of our words and actions around Israel/ Palestine. Our dedication to a peace resolution in Gaza is evident. Since taking our seats in Westminster, SDLP MP’s have:
·Consistently called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, including through directly challenging the Prime Minister and making repeated representations to the government
· Demanded that the Foreign Secretary ban arms sales to Israel, in fact, post October 7th, Claire Hanna was the first MP to call for the government to stop arms sales to Israel
· Engaged with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on the situation in Gaza
· Boycotted the White House on St Patrick’s Day in response to the continued support the US have given Israel
· Met with the Palestinian Ambassador to the UK and Omar Barghouti, the co-founder of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement and many charities and NGOs
Claire Hanna over 2 years before the Irish Government did so earlier this month co-sponsored a bill in Parliament that would recognise the Palestinian State
· Nominated the healthcare workers in Gaza for the Nobel Peace Prize
-SDLP MPs have spoken out in the media and rallies on the issue
The SDLP will continue to call for:
1. An Immediate Ceasefire in Gaza as the only legitimate and ethical path to peace
2. Recognition of the state of Palestine and the establishment of a Two – State Solution with internationally recognised borders
3. The Release of Hostages that were taken during the despicable 7th of October terrorist attack carried out by Hamas
4. The expulsion of the Israeli Ambassador from the United Kingdom and Ireland in response to the repeated endorsement of the destruction of Gaza
5. A fully supported humanitarian intervention which allows for the deliverance of aid to those who are being devastated by this genocide
6. An end to the funding of Israeli arms by the British Government which have been used in violations of humanitarian and international law
7. The establishment of a Palestinian Visa Scheme in order to help displaced Palestinian people.